Future is Now is queen of the Saratoga turf (Chelsea Durand)
Christian Abdo/NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.- The Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s multiple graded stakes-winner Future Is Now earned her 10th career win in 18 starts while successfully defending her title in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Smart and Fancy, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Michael Trombetta, the 5-year-old Great Notion bay took this event by a half-length last August and has now won 4-of-5 starts since, including a last-out score in the Grade 3 Caress over course and distance on July 19. Her additional graded scores in that span include Keeneland’s Grade 2 Franklin in October and Grade 3 Giant’s Causeway in April, and she also previously won the Grade 2 Intercontinental last June here.
“We all know how rare they are,” Trombetta said. “So when you get one like this you just try to do everything right and give her every chance to show up.”
Piloted by regular rider Paco Lopez, who has navigated all of the mare’s graded scores, Future Is Now broke alertly from post 5 and settled in third position outside of Twirling Queen as Risk Threshold went to the front from the inside post through an opening quarter-mile in 22.56 seconds on the good turf.
“Today, a little nervous in the gate when she goes in, but she’s her – she always break good, always she breaks in the top,” Lopez said. “I let her go at the three-and-a-half, pick it up, pick it up at the eighth pole.”
Future Is Now maintained her close third position entering the turn and soon headed Twirling Queen as Risk Threshold held strong on the lead rounding the bend. At the top of lane, Risk Threshold and Future Is Now were on even terms while Dontlookbackatall improved along the inside and primed for her run following the half-mile in 45.40.
Future Is Now built a 1 1/2-length advantage by the stretch call with no motion from Lopez, who then checked over each shoulder in search of who may challenge his charge.
“I had plenty horse. She ran good. She’s a very good filly of Mike’s. She’s doing better and better for him,” said Lopez. “She likes to have competition… she waits a little bit for the horses.”
The Manny Franco-piloted Dontlookbackatall loomed the main danger down the center of the course, but Future Is Now responded strongly in the lane and powered to the wire to defeat her by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:02.71.
Ellen Jay finished third a half-length behind Dontlookbackatall, with Risk Threshold landing fourth. Out too Late, Twirling Queen and Sunday Girl completed the order of finish, while Benedetta was pulled up in the stretch and provided a ride back to the barn area via the equine ambulance.
Gal in a Rush, cross-entered in the Satin and Lace on August 18 at Presque Isle Downs, and main track-only entrants Legadema and Little Prankster were scratched.
Trombetta said his main worry was the gate, but his classy mare broke smoothly today.
“She gets a little fussy in the gate sometimes. That’s something we’ve been working on, but I can’t duplicate the afternoon vibes in the mornings,” said Trombetta. “I think she broke well. Paco wasn’t sure how things were going to unfold in the paddock and quite honestly nor was I. He just figured he’d play it the way it breaks and fortunately she broke well, rated kindly and ran when he asked her to.”
Trombetta added that another title defense may be in order, this time in the Grade 2 Franklin on October 12 at Keeneland.
“We hope so. That’s always been the goal is to get there in the fall,” Trombetta said. “We’ll take her back to Fair Hill, let her unwind a little bit and get ready for what’s next. She’d had a good season last year – I think she’d ran nine times – we’ll take a look at everything.”
Franco said the Miguel Clement-trained Dontlookbackatall was game in defeat after a stumbling start. The 5-year-old Peace and Justice dark bay won last year’s Grade 3 Caress where Future Is Now landed a close third.
“A little stumble out [of the gate] and after that I just take my time – she was relaxed,” said Franco. “Then, going to the half-a-mile, she took the bit strong, so she wanted to go forward. I got the spot inside, got a good trip after that, I was just second best. She was there for me.”
Bred in Maryland by the late R. Larry Johnson, Future Is Now, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Call Another Play and multiple stakes-placed Continentalcongres, is out of the Trombetta-trained Johnson homebred Past as Prelude, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Street Magician.
She banked $82,500 in victory to raise her career bankroll to $967,160 while improving her record to 18-10-2-1 and returning $3.60 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Saturday with a 12-race program featuring the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales [Race 10] and the $150,000 Skidmore [Race 9]. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
