Future Is Now fends off Star Guest, survives inquiry to win Smart N Fancy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Michael Trombetta had to sweat out a grueling stretch battle, head bobbing finish, and a stewards’ inquiry but in the end, all that angst proved worth the wait once the official sign finally went up on Future Is Now’s half-length victory over Star Guest in Friday’s $150,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga.

Future Is Now came into the 5 1/2-furlong Smart N Fancy off a similarly game triumph over Roses for Debra in the Grade 2 Intercontinental here during Belmont Stakes weekend and a somewhat frustrating third-place finish after setting a contentious pace from the outset of the Grade 3 Caress seven weeks later.

With her regular rider Paco Lopez aboard, Future Is Now broke well to stalk the pace of Lady Milagro and took command from that rival leaving the turn. After coming out to bump with Star Guest entering the stretch, Future Is Now re-asserted herself after relinquishing the lead briefly a furlong from the wire and proved narrowly best despite switching back to her left lead about 70 yards from the finish.   

Star Guest came three wide with her bid turning for home, and after that bump with Future Is Now, took a brief lead but could not contain Future Is Now in the end. Roses for Debra, runaway winner of this same event a year ago, moved to within striking distance at the top of the stretch but lacked a further response, finishing another two lengths further back in third.

Following a stewards’ inquiry into the incident between the top pair at the head of the lane, the result was unchanged.

Future is Now is a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Great Notion owned by R. Larry Johnson. She completed the distance over a firm course in 1:03.19 seconds and paid $6.30.

“It was kind of tough because coming off that bend, it was hard to say what was going on,” Trombetta said when asked his thoughts while awaiting the final decision. “There was nothing to do other than sit back, watch, see what they say, and hope for the best. Fortunately it went our way today.”

Trombetta said drawing on the extreme outside for the Smart N Fancy rather than near the inside as she had in the Caress, was a real difference maker for his filly.

“The post draw made all the difference,” Trombetta explained. “The last time she drew inside Kaufymaker, broke sharp and never had a chance but to go and push. She’ll do that, but it’s not her favorite way to run. She likes to have a target, get her feet under herself and that’s what makes her finish a little bit stronger. As always, she fights very hard. She just stuck it through and persevered, which is not easy to do.”