Insights on the American Racing Scene for Friday May 5

Insights on the American Racing Scene, brought to you by Alex Nichols Agency, turns the spotlight on the best U.S. races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses, other horses of note returning to action and/or notable results from sales pavilions around the world. Friday's installment features a promising full-sister to a household name.

12th-CD, $67K, Alw/OC, 3, f, 6 1/2f
AMERICAN CLEOPATRA (Pioneerof the Nile), the full-sister to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, makes her first start since a disappointing eighth-place finish in the GI Chandelier S. on the stretch out at Santa Anita Oct. 1. The bay belied shocking 7-1 odds to best Union Strike (Union Rags) and earn 'TDN Rising Star' status first up at Del Mar in July, and was second to that one in the GI Del Mar Debutante in September–a nose ahead of eventual champion 2-year-old filly Champagne Room (Broken Vow). Union Strike is favored on the morning line in the GIII Eight Belles S. earlier on this card. E H Beau Lane III homebred Minnie Blip (Algorithms) aims to go two-for-two off a 7 1/4-length romp at Fair Grounds Mar. 23. As her name might suggest, she is a half-sister to Blip n' Th Bye (Tale of Ekati), who was second in last year's Eight Belles. TJCIS PPs