Insights on the American Racing Scene for Mar. 10

2nd-TAM, $32.5K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, post time: 12:42 p.m. EDT
Some well-pedigreed maidens have come out for this GII Tampa Bay Derby Day card, including the fifth and sixth-most expensive horses from last year's OBS March sale. RULER OF THE NILE (Pioneerof the Nile) was a late scratch after dropping his rider at Gulfstream Park Feb. 24. He was a $240,000 KEENOV weanling who blossomed into a $1-million March grad after a :20 4/5breeze. The bay is out of a half-sister to MGSW and hyped freshman sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) and to the GISP dam of GI Wood Memorial S. winner Outwork (Uncle Mo). Ironwood (Curlin), meanwhile, was scratched out of a two-turn heat last week in favor of this. The half-brother to MSW Wake Up Nick (Cindago) RNA'd for $120,000 at Keeneland September, but yielded a winning bid of $950,000 in Ocala after a good-looking :10 1/5 move. He'll be saddled for this by relative unknown conditioner Abraham Gardea. Phipps homebred My Dream (Orb) TJCIS PPs

4th-TAM, $32.5K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 1:42 p.m. EDT
Trainer Todd Pletcher has begun to use Tampa Bay Downs as a softer springboard for some of his promising runners in recent years, and will unveil $475,000 KEESEP acquisition ALBEROBELLO (Bernardini) on behalf of the China Horse Club. The bay miss is a full to GISW A Z Warrior and half to MGSW Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile), GSW and GISP E Z Warrior (Explot) and MSW J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday)–all were 'TDN Rising Stars'. Cheery Oats (Distorted Humor), a half to Classic winner and successful sire Shackleford (Forestry); GISW Lady Joanne (Orientate); and MGSWs Baghdaria (Royal Academy) and Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex), showed speed before fading to seventh in a 7 1/2-furlong turf affair at Gulfstream Feb. 14. Introspective (Elusive Quality) appears to be working steadily for trainer Chad Stewart at Hunter Farm Training Center. The $95,000 FTKNOV weanling pick-up is a half to speedy graded stakes winners Gantry (Pulpit) and Central Banker (Speightstown). TJCIS PPs

12th-GP, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, post time: 5:35 p.m. EDT
Zayat Stables LLC's DAWOOD (Giant's Causeway) makes his first start for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who has been on a good run with his maidens. The $675,000 Keeneland September grad is a half to MGISW turfer Avenge (War Front) and full to MSW/GSP Lira. His now 2-year-old War Front half-brother was a $995,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. Todd Pletcher pupil Times Square (Tapit) RNA'd for $375,000 as a KEESEP yearling before bringing $250,000 at OBS June from Calumet Farm after a :10 4/5 spin. His dam is Grade II-winning and GISP sprinter Magical Feeling (Empire Maker). TJCIS PPs

3rd-FG, $38K, Msw, 3yo, a1 1/16mT, post time: 3:03 p.m. EDT
It might have been more fitting if he debuted at Oaklawn, but Woodford Racing's $750,000 KEESEP yearling HOT SPRINGS (Uncle Mo) gets going here on the grass. The Steve Asmussen trainee's stakes-placed dam is out of GISW Miss Houdini (Belong to Me), making her a half to MGSW Papa Clem (Smart Strike). Third dam Magical Maiden (Lord Avie) was a MGISW. The regally bred Sportswear (GB) (Frankel+%28GB%29">Frankel {GB}) was ninth as chalk in his unveiling for Chad Brown at Saratoga last August, and since joined the Neil Howard barn. His G1 Epsom Oaks-winning dam Casual Look (Red Ransom) was also responsible for domestic GSW Causal Smile (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

—@BDiDonatoTDN