Future Is Now Nips Pandora's Gift at the Wire to Take the Giant's Causeway Stakes

The daughter of Great Notion reaffirmed her affinity for the Keeneland turf, where she had previously captured the GII Franklin Stakes

Saving ground throughout, Future Is Now had just a little more in the tank when it mattered most / KEENELAND

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Keeneland specialist Future Is Now (Great Notion) confirmed her affinity for the local turf with a heart-pounding nose victory in Sunday’s $350,000 Giant’s Causeway S. (G3), capping off another high-class weekend of spring racing in Lexington.

The 5-year-old Maryland-bred, owned by the Estate of R. Larry Johnson, trained by Mike Trombetta and piloted once again by Paco Lopez, stopped the clock in 1:02.72 for 5 1/2 furlongs over firm ground, notching her second graded score at Keeneland following last fall’s Franklin S. (G2).

Quick from the gate, Future Is Now took command early, setting a sharp opening quarter in :22.73 with Pandora’s Gift (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) applying pressure from just off her flank. The Irish raider drew alongside around the turn and the pair matched strides into the stretch, exchanging blows down the lane in a battle that went right to the wire. In the final strides, Future Is Now dug down and thrust her head in front when it mattered most.

Winner of five of her last six starts—all with Lopez aboard—Future Is Now improved her record to 15-8-1-1 with $748,410 in earnings. She is a daughter of leading Mid-Atlantic sire Great Notion and the Bernardini mare Past as Prelude.

“She’s a great filly. She can run anywhere and she’s doing great,” said Lopez. “Michael (Trombetta) told me, ‘Paco, she’s training super, she never missed a work.’ She did it. I’m lucky today. Taking the lead wasn’t really the plan—I told Michael I didn’t want to go to the front. But she broke on top and nobody else did, so we had to take it. I waited and waited until she [Pandora’s Gift] passed me, and then I asked her to go—and she finished very well. Michael told me, ‘Today, Paco, you were really lucky.’ ”

Danse Macabre (Army Mule) ran a strong third, just a length behind the runner-up.