Super Saver yet to put it all together

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It's about that time of year when people start saying, "Where did the time go?"

Indeed. Didn't Churchill Downs just begin its fall meet a few days ago? In fact, the meet started Nov. 1, sped through the Breeders' Cup, incurred a little pick six madness, and hurtled toward the usual frenetic ending, which comes Saturday with a 12-race card anchored by the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod stakes.

Like the Nov. 1 opener, the Saturday finale is dedicated to the "Stars of Tomorrow" concept, with all races exclusively for 2-year-olds. It's an idea that has worked well here every fall since its 2005 inception, and by the looks of the well-populated overnight sheet, it will close the 21-day fall meet on the right note.

The Grade 2, $150,000 KJC Stakes long has been a producer of potential returnees for the Kentucky Derby six months hence, and although it would be premature to go out on that limb in regard to its 83rd running here Saturday, there still are prospects aplenty among the field of nine colts.

Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on opening day, is one of those. Trained by Steve Asmussen, who by Thursday was well on his way to his seventh meet title at Churchill, Thiskyhasnolimit will be looking to confirm that his 13-1 upset in the one-mile Iroquois was no fluke.

But if he can't, the most logical horse to step in is Super Saver, a WinStar Farm colt who was beaten just two lengths when fourth in his last start, the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Super Saver will be ridden by Calvin Borel when starting from post 2 in the 1 1/16-mile race.

"We entertained the thought of running him in the Breeders' Cup off that big effort in the Champagne before deciding to wait and point instead for this race," said Elliott Walden, racing manager for WinStar. "It was a very good race for him. He didn't switch leads, and he was down on the inside, maybe a little intimidated. He's been a little slow to come around physically and has some maturing to do, but hopefully he'll run big Saturday and then ship to Florida and get ready for some big stuff next year."

Other possibilities in the KJC include William's Kitten, winner of the Sunday Silence in September and most recently eighth in the BC Juvenile; Mr. Saturday Night, a recent transfer into the Dale Romans barn from the Southern California circuit; and Worldly, a full brother to Suave and a winner of a two-turn maiden race earlier in the meet.

The KJC is the 11th race on a card that starts at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Post time for the KJC is 4:27 p.m., with the Golden Rod (race 9) going at 3:28. Two $60,000 turf stakes, the Grand Canyon (race 6) and Caressing (race 10) also are on tap, along with four allowances and four maiden-special races.