Insights: Saturday, Jan. 13

3rd-FG, $41k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 3:03 p.m. ET
TAPABILITY (Tapit), the first foal out of two-time champion female sprinter Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band), makes his debut. The chestnut, drawn widest of all in this nine-horse field, fired a five-furlong bullet for trainer Buff Bradley at Fair Grounds in 1:00 1/5 (1/39). Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm purchased Groupie Doll for $3.1 million at the 2013 KEENOV sale. Bradley, of course, also campaigned the two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine. “He’s pretty much like Groupie Doll in his aggressiveness,” Bradley said. “When he gets out there and wants to do it you can see that he’s really on it. She might have been a little more laid back around the barn area whereas he’s a bit more aggressive around the barn and in his stall. It’s probably [because he’s a] colt, but you can tell that he’s a very happy horse, always wants to play. He’s very manageable though and he’s a very happy horse.” TJCIS PPs

3rd-SA, $54k, Msw, 3yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 4:30 p.m. ET
NERO (Pioneerof the Nile), a painful debut second as the 1-2 favorite on debut behind subsequent Speakeasy S. winner Beautiful Shot (Trappe Shot) after being overconfidently handled in the stretch by Martin Garcia at Del Mar Aug. 27, makes his much anticipated return. Bob Baffert adds blinkers on the half-brother to GSW Ocean Knight (Curlin). The $950,000 FTSAUG yearling is campaigned by Magnier, Stonestreet, Smith et al. TJCIS PPs

7th-OP, $76k, OC 62k/N1X, 3yo, 1m, post time: 5:09 p.m. ET
NEW YORK CENTRAL (Tapit), a half-brother to GII Saratoga Special S. winner Corfu (Malibu Moon), tackles winners and two turns for the first time since earning his ‘TDN Rising Star’ badge at second asking going six furlongs at Churchill Nov. 26. The $750,000 FTSAUG yearling, produced by a half-sister to MGISW Peace Rules (Jules), is trained by Steve Asmussen. He is the 6-5 morning-line favorite. TJCIS PPs