A Saturday Where Juveniles Should Tell Us A Lot

While Smart Seattle and Zilva have experienced the bright lights of the Breeders' Cup Championship, the rapid, yet quietly, improving Check The Label will take to the turf in the $60,000 Caressing for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

The Stormin Fever filly will break from post nine in a field of 12 on closing day at the historic Louisville track. Gabriel Saez picks up the mount while Julien Leparoux will spend his weekend in Japan for the Japan Cup. In her last start, Check The Label endured a perfect trip along the inside and won by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths over the same sod she'll run over on Saturday. She is now 2-for-3 on the turf and has all but "Labeled" herself as a turf horse.

While it is natural for Smart Seattle to precede Zilva's name, and visa-versa, Check The Label looks to join the well-publicized duo with a solid performance Saturday. A repeat running of her allowance win will do exactly that. Post time for the Caressing is 3:58.

The colt version of the Caressing is the Grand Canyon, and Herringswell Stables will be represented by Cat Park. The Augustin homebred won his last start, a first level allowance at Keeneland, his first try over grass. That race at Keeneland produced next-out winner Lost Aptitude, who will break from the rail in the Grand Canyon. Cat Park (Tale Of The Cat) brings a two race win streak into the Grand Canyon. The Tale Of The Cat colt is now 2-for-3 lifetime. Gabriel Saez has the return call aboard the promising chestnut. Post time for the Grand Canyon is 1:58.

Check The Label and Cat Park are two of three Herringswell juveniles to have won more than their maiden race. Priscilla Graham's Turf Melody completes the trio.

Also on Saturday, Now And Forever (Jeremy Rose) makes a return to the races for Pin Oak Stable in Laurel's fourth race. Let's Do It (Saez) returns to the grass after at Churchill.

The triple of Herringswell 2-year-old runners at Churchill are part of "2-year-old day" where all twelve races feature juveniles. The Grand Canyon and Caressing are two of four stakes on the closing day card. The Kentucky Jockey Club and The Golden Rod are dirt route races for colts and fillies respectively.