Insights on the American Racing Scene: July 30

2nd-WO, C$61K, Msw, 2yo, 6f (AWT), post time: 1:28 p.m ET
Bruce Lunsford bred BEL AIR SKY (Malibu Moon) from his talented runner Bel Air Beauty (Smart Strike), winner of the 2006 GII Darley Alcibiades S. and the 2007 GIII Valley View S. at Keeneland. Lunsford has also bred successfully from the mare, as her son Stacked Deck–by Lunsford's First Samurai–is a two-time graded winner over the local synthetic track and was named Canada's champion sprinter of 2015. Bel Air Sky is also kin to Valentino Beauty (Vindication), Grade II-placed over the E.P. Taylor turf course. TJCIS PPs

5th-SAR, $83K, Msw, 2yo, f, post time: 3:15 p.m. ET
MEMORIAL DRIVE (Smart Strike) hails from the penultimate crop of her late sire and descends from one of the most distinguished Lane's End families. A late May foal, the bay is a maternal granddaughter of 1997 GI Alabama S. winner Runup the Colors (A.P. Indy), the dam of GSW Revolutionary (War Pass) and GSP Tafaseel (Belong to Me) and Ice Road (Unbridled's Song). Memorial Drive's third dam is dotted with high-class black-type, as Runup the Colors was a half-sister to French highweight Flagbird (Nureyev), to 1994 GII King's Bishop S. hero Top Account (Private Account) and to MGISW Prospectors Delite (Mr. Prospector), dam of Horse of the Year and Lane's End sire Mineshaft (A.P. Indy) and his MGISW full-sister Tomisue's Delight. This is also the family of current Grade I winner Dickinson (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs

6th-DMR, $60K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, post time: 7:40 p.m. ET
TAYLOR AND BURTON (Pioneerof the Nile) fetched $180K as a KEESEP yearling last fall and breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5while on his incorrect lead at the FTFMAR sale. Originally led out of the Gulfstream sales ring unsold, Samantha Siegel managed to acquire the colt in a private transaction for $350K. A half-brother to SW Seacrettina (Sea of Secrets), Taylor and Burton is from the female family of 199 GI Mother Goose S. winner and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Dreams Gallore (Silver Ghost). Katherine (Distorted Humor) was bought back on a bid of $245K at last year's FTSAUG sale, but was knocked down to Lee Searing's C R K Stable for $575K at this year's OBSAPR sale after covering a furlong in :10 flat while doing her best work through the wire. Katherine is out of a winning half-sister to dual Grade I winner Dream Rush (Wild Rush), the dam of 'TDN Rising Stars' GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) and SW and young Hill 'n' Dale sire Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs —Alan Carasso