As is tradition with turf races, the GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland came down to a thriller on the wire as the Maryland-bred Future Is Now (Great Notion) got the best of the photo to win her 2025 seasonal now.
Racing almost on a monthly basis last year, she wrapped her 2024 campaign on a win streak with a three-quarter length victory Oct. 13 in Keeneland's GII Franklin Stakes. That lifetime best 99 Beyer there came on the back of her half-length win in Saratoga's Listed Smart N Fancy Stakes Aug. 23, and even that was the cap on a fruitful stay in New York. In three starts at America's summer playground, Future Is Now came home with the trophy for the GII Intercontinental Stakes and ran third in the GIII Caress.
Despite being off since mid-October and posting 10 published workouts since Feb. 1, the betting public was not concerned with the layoff as they sent her away nearly on even terms in the wagering with Pandora's Gift (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) at 2-1 odds. Overcoming an early brush out of the gate, she set a pressured pace as that rival was never far behind through :22.73 and a half in :45.64 through the bend. Still locked in their duel, neither lady would give an inch and in a race where no one deserved to lose, it was Future Is Now who got the best of the bob as Pandora's Gift had to settle for second. Danse Macabre (Army Mule) closed from last to claim third.
“She's a great filly. She can run anywhere and she's doing great,” said winning rider Paco Lopez. “[Trainer] Michael [Trombetta] told me, 'Paco, she's training super, she never missed a work.' She did it. I'm lucky today.”
“[Taking the lead] was not my plan. I told Michael I didn't really want to make the lead. But she broke on top and nobody else made [the lead], so we had to take it. I waited and waited until she [Pandora's Gift (Ire)] passed me, and then I told [Future is Now] to go and she finished very well. Michael told me, 'Today, Paco, you were really lucky.'”
“It's a lot. It's very sentimental,” said Trombetta as he reflected what it meant to win in memory of the late Mid-Atlantic owner/breeder Larry Johnson. The longtime horseman died Feb. 4 and his estate now owns Future Is Now. “Everybody's worked hard and the family has been supportive every step of the way, so [the win] means the world.”
Future is Now gets the win in the G3 Giant's Causeway under @pacolopez1018 for trainer @MichaelTrombet3! 🏆
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/1AdLYWtNYk
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 13, 2025
Pedigree Note:
Future Is Now is one of three black-type earners for her dam, the other two being MSP Continentalcongres (Constitution) and MSW & GSP Call Another Play (Audible). Their dam's most recent offspring are the unraced 3-year-old Places in My Past (McKinzie) and a yearling filly by Audible. Past as Prelude, a half-sister to GSW Street Magician (Street Cry {Ire}) and to the dam of GSP Hopeful Princess (Not This Time), is due to Charlatan in 2025.
The extended female family, as well as the immediate one, really take a shine to Constitution further down the page as well with black type runners by him in their ranks including GSW & MGISP Mindframe and MSP Mr Jefferson.
Sunday, Keeneland
GIANT'S CAUSEWAY S.-GIII, $270,850, Keeneland, 4-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.72, fm.
1–FUTURE IS NOW, 124, m, 5, by Great Notion
1st Dam: Past as Prelude, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Magical Meadow, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Special Kell, by Parfaitement
O-The Estate of R. Larry Johnson; B-R. Larry Johnson (MD); T-Michael J. Trombetta; J-Paco Lopez. $147,250. Lifetime Record: 15-8-1-1, $748,410. *1/2 to Continentalcongres (Constitution), MSP, $313,800 and Call Another Play (Audible), MSW & GSP, $363,905. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pandora's Gift (Ire), 122, f, 4, Churchill (Ire)–Amthaal (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). (€28,000 Ylg '22 GOFSPT; $850,000 3yo '24 KEECHA). O-LSU Stables; B-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Christophe Clement. $47,500.
3–Danse Macabre, 122, m, 5, Army Mule–Sylphide, by Blame. ($11,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $27,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $55,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-NBS Stable and Elements Racing, LLC; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement. $33,250.
Margins: NO, 1, NK. Odds: 2.48, 2.43, 5.17.
Also Ran: Toupie, Get Twisted, Just a Care (Ire), Awesome Treat, Accomplished Girl, Lithe Spirit. Scratched: B G Warrior.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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