Future Is Now Returns to Keeneland for Giant's Causeway

Future Is Now , last seen winning the 2024 Franklin Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland in October, returns April 13 as one of the favorites in the $350,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes (G3T). Sunday's 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint drew a field of 10 fillies and mares.

A Maryland-bred who races for the estate of her breeder Larry Johnson, the 5-year-old Great Notion   mare won four stakes sprinting on the turf last year—Pimlico Race Course's The Very One Stakes, the Intercontinental Stakes (G2T) and Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and the Franklin.

Future Is Now has been working steadily for trainer Michael Trombetta Fair Hill Training Center. Paco Lopez was named to ride for the sixth consecutive start.

Pandora's Gift , across the line third in last year's Franklin before being disqualified for a positive test, also returns, making her first start for owner LSU Stables and trainer Christophe Clement after being purchased for $850,000 from her former owner/trainer Stuart C. Williams at the Keeneland Championship Sale last fall. The 4-year-old Churchill  filly is one of two entrants making her first start for Clement, who also has taken over the training of NBS Stable and Elements Racing's Danse Macabre .

Danse Macabre, a 5-year-old Army Mule   mare, is a four-time stakes winner on the turf, including the 2023 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. She finished second, a neck ahead of Future Is Now, in the 2024 Caress Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga, a race in which Lopez lost his whip aboard Future Is Now.

Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Toupie  also ships in from Fair Hill for trainer Graham Motion. A three-time stakes winner on the turf, the 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly won the Jan. 19 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) going down the hill at Santa Anita Park in her most recent start.