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KJC, Golden Rod highlight Churchill finale Churchill Downs concludes its fall meet Saturday with its Stars of Tomorrow II program, 12 races exclusively for two-year-olds. The traditional meet-ending feature, the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, may give a glimpse at what is to come six months from now in the 136th Kentucky Derby (G1). There is no standout on paper in the Kentucky Jockey Club, though favoritism will likely fall on THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa), who found the switch in venue from New York to Churchill agreeable when taking the one-mile Iroquois S. (G3) by a length on November 1 at 13-1. The Steve Asmussen pupil had previously finished far back in both the Futurity S. (G2) and Saratoga Special S. (G2). The dark bay loves the Churchill strip, however, finishing second to subsequent Grade 2 winner Backtalk (Smarty Jones) in his debut in June prior to a seven-length maiden triumph on Independence Day. Todd Pletcher sends SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) following a solid fourth-place effort in the Champagne S. (G1). A seven-length maiden winner at Belmont prior the Champagne, Super Saver set fast splits in the historic one-mile fixture before weakening late, missing by only two lengths. There are only two other stakes winners among the field of nine colts. WILLIAM'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) captured the off-the-turf Sunday Silence S. at Louisiana Downs three back, then went unplaced in both the Grey S. (Can-G3) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in his two synthetic appearances. GLEAM OF HOPE (City Zip) similarly won an off-the-turf stakes, the Cradle at River Downs, and offered a modest rally to be fourth in the Iroquois in his lone interim start. WORLDLY (A.P. Indy) and CALLIDE VALLEY (Indian Charlie) both won on the Stars of Tomorrow I card, the former in a maiden and the latter in an entry-level allowance. Worldly might have the most potential from a pedigree perspective. A son of Grade 1 winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Urbane (Citidancer), he is a full brother to the multiple Grade 2 victor Suave. This year's renewal of the $150,000 Golden Rod S. (G2) for fillies will be hard pressed to produce a winner as good as last year's -- Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) -- but hope springs eternal. The top four finishers from the November 1 Pocahontas S. (G3) -- SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow), DECELERATOR (Dehere), ALL DUE RESPECT (Value Plus) and VIVID COLORS (Roman Ruler) -- are all back and will be joined by newcomers UPPERLINE (Maria's Mon), CANADIAN STORM (Stormy Atlantic) and QUIET TEMPER (Quiet American). Upperline has won two of three starts including an allowance over males last time, though all have come over Polytrack. Canadian Storm won her debut on dirt at Philadelphia Park then finished fourth in the Jessamine S. over Polytrack at Keeneland last time. The most intriguing of the trio is Quiet Temper, a maiden who makes her two-turn debut after making a premature move to the lead at Belmont last time. She descends from the 1966 champion three-year-old filly and significant ancestress Lady Pitt (Sword Dancer). Turf specialists will also get their turn Saturday in the $60,000 Grand Canyon S. and the $60,000 Caressing S. for fillies. The Grand Canyon, contested at 1 1/16 miles, has attracted stakes winner DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), who was beaten less than three lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2). El Joven S. victor KERA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), a late withdrawal from Breeders' Cup consideration, will put his perfect two-for-two mark on the line, while last-out allowance winners LOST APTITUDE (Aptitude) and CAT PARK (Tale of the Cat) will merit long looks. The one-mile Caressing is led by LISA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), a non-factor in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf following a win in the La Senorita S. at Retama Park.
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