Future Is Now noses Pandora's Gift in Giant's Causeway Stakes
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Future Is Now and Pandora's Gift were separated by 1 1/4 lengths when they crossed the line first and third, respectively, in the Grade 2 Franklin Stakes last October at Keeneland.
They were considerably closer on Sunday. Both making their first start since the Franklin, the two turf sprinters drove the length of the stretch and to the line together in the Grade 3, $350,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes, with Future Is Now having the barest nose in front at the wire for another score at Keeneland.
“She’s a great filly,” jockey Paco Lopez said. “She can run anywhere and she’s doing great. … [trainer Michael Trombetta] told me, ‘Today, Paco, you were really lucky.’ ”
Future Is Now ($6.96), a 5-year-old Great Notion mare, is trained by Trombetta for the estate of her breeder, the late R. Larry Johnson. The Maryland-bred won four stakes last year, at Pimlico, Saratoga, and finally, Keeneland.
Meanwhile, Irish-bred Pandora's Gift was Group 3-placed in her home country before coming to the U.S. to finish second in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters on synthetic and then cross the line third in the Franklin - although she was demoted to 12th for interference. Off those efforts, she was sold for $850,000 at the inaugural Keeneland Championship sale at Del Mar, and remained in the U.S. for new owner LSU Stables. She was making her 4-year-old debut for Christophe Clement.
Future Is Now bounced away from the gate swiftly and led a prompting Pandora's Gift and Accomplished Girl by a length through an opening quarter-mile in 22.73 seconds. The field of nine was tightly bunched, with a little more than three lengths covering the lot down the backstretch.
Pandora's Gift tightened things up on Future Is Now around the turn, pulling up on her outside within heads of the leader, and, in fact, putting her own head in front into the lane. But Future Is Now fought back, and a stirring stretch drive ensued.
“It was very close, a bob of the head,” Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard Pandora’s Gift, said. “We fought all the way to the wire. She was trying, unlucky that we didn’t get it.”
The time for the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf rated firm was 1:02.72.
After the top two, it was a length to Danse Macabre, who made a run up the inside to edge out Toupie by a neck for third. Toupie was followed by Get Twisted, Just a Care, Awesome Treat, Accomplished Girl, and Lithe Spirit.
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