Future Is Now Defends Smart And Fancy Crown at Saratoga

[Wandering Eyes]

She's the queen of turf speed at Saratoga and it's her summer we get to witness.

Future Is Now (Great Notion) has now claimed seven wins from her last nine starts with a sparkling defense of her title in the Listed Smart And Fancy Stakes Friday afternoon.

Not off the board since mid-May of last year, the Great Notion mare has taken home the hardware in four graded races and hit the board in two others. Her last start July 19 at this venue was a half-length victory in the GIII Caress Stakes. Her only defeat in 2025 thus far was a runner-up effort in the GII Intercontinental Stakes by that same margin.

Quick from the blocks but with Twirling Queen (Twirling Candy) outsprinting her for the lead, the 4-5 favorite stalked to the outside of that rival as an opening quarter in :22.56 was posted and they swung into the stretch behind a four-furlong split in :45.40 with Future Is Now in firm command. Dontlookbackatall (Peace and Justice) tried to make it a race late but the betting choice was too much as she strolled home to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Returning Ellen Jay (Constitution) came on late to claim third.

Benedetta (City of Light), who was pulled up in the stretch, was walked onto the equine ambulance after being hosed and iced down.

“No objections, no inquiries, so all good,” said winning trainer Michael Trombetta. “It was a nice trip. I think she broke well. [Jockey] Paco [Lopez] 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.”

When asked about a title defense in the GII Franklin Stakes Oct. 12 at Keeneland, Trombetta replied, “We hope so. That's always been the goal is to get there in the fall. 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.”

“She likes to have competition,” said Lopez. “[When she's alone] she waits a little bit for the horses, when she's next to horses she's a little bit [more engaged]. Today, easy field for her, I'm pretty sure.”

Future Is Now is a half-sister to a pair of similarly accomplished siblings, but claims the crown in the family as king of the hill, too. Elder half-brother Continentalcongres (Constitution) is multiple stakes placed while 4-year-old half-sister Call Another Play (Audible) is a dual stakes winner and graded-placed. Their dam Past as Prelude has a 3-year-old unraced son named Places in My Past (McKinzie) as well as a yearling filly by Audible and a 2025 colt by Charlatan. She went to Life Is Good for 2026. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

FUTURE IS NOW wins the Smart And Fancy Stakes for the second year in a row with @Pacolopez1018 aboard for trainer @trombetta_mike! pic.twitter.com/Vm39zJPgl6

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 15, 2025

SMART AND FANCY S., $150,000, Saratoga, 8-15, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.71, gd.
1–FUTURE IS NOW, 126, m, 5, Great Notion–Past as Prelude, by Bernardini. O-The Estate of R. Larry Johnson; B-R. Larry
Johnson (MD); T-Michael J. Trombetta; J-Paco Lopez. $82,500.
Lifetime Record: MGSW, 18-10-2-1, $967,160. *1/2 to
Continentalcongres (Constitution), MSP, $313,800; 1/2 to Call
Another Play (Audible), MSW & GSP, $370,345.
2–Dontlookbackatall, 126, m, 5, Peace and Justice–Celtic Arch,
by Arch. ($150,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-West Point
Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing
Stables; B-A1A Racing (PA); T-Miguel Clement. $30,000.
3–Ellen Jay, 122, f, 4, Constitution–Covfefe, by Into Mischief.
O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $18,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.80, 16.90, 4.10.
Also Ran: Risk Threshold (Ire), Out too Late (GB), Twirling Queen, Sunday Girl, Benedetta. Scratched: Gal in a Rush, Legadema, Little Prankster.

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