Pipsy is the only horse to defeat Future Is Now in her last six starts, and Pipsy is one of two horses Future Is Now must beat to win the Grade 2, $400,000 Franklin Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland.
Five-year-old Future Is Now leads the older filly-and-mare turf sprint division and should be respected accordingly. Who knows how good the 3-year-old filly Luna Louska could be? “Unbeaten and untested” is a racing cliché, but if the cliché fits, wear it. Luna Louska, a speedball, has led at every point of call in her three turf sprints, most recently wiring the Floral Park Stakes at Aqueduct.
Future Is Now, though, beats every horse she encounters – every horse this year save Pipsy, who pipped her by a half-length in the Intercontinental Stakes in June at Saratoga. Future Is Now had the tougher trip that day, and where Pipsy returned from the Intercontinental with an eighth and a fifth, Future Is Now simply returned to her winning ways. She annexed the Caress at Saratoga, then won the Smart and Fancy – the same schedule that led to a win last year in the 5 1/2-furlong Franklin.
Future Is Now made it 2 for 2 at Keeneland capturing the Giant’s Causeway in her 2025 debut. In her last dozen starts, all turf sprints, Future Is Now has put together an 8-2-0 record.
“What makes her so consistent? I wish I knew. I wish I could get them all to do that,” said Michael Trombetta, who trains Future Is Now for the Estate of R. Larry Johnson. “She’s just very genuine. She tries so hard every time.”
Future Is Now’s Beyer Speed Figure pattern is 99-99-98-97-99. Those figures fit the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Alas, Future Is Now lacks Breeders’ Cup eligibility. It would take a $100,000 supplement just to get her eligible. Maybe next year, Trombetta said.
Paco Lopez, now serving a long suspension, rode Future Is Now her last nine starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes over Sunday, his mount drawn widest in a nine-runner field.
“I guess it’s okay,” Trombetta said of the post position. “We’re introducing a new rider. That should take a little pressure off if there’s a real hot pace.”
Luna Louska creates a hot pace all by herself. Future Is Now has speed, as does Pipsy. They might not have as much speed as Luna Louska.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado and with Kendrick Carmouche in to ride for the second straight race, Luna Louska showed little in two dirt starts, more in a synthetic try, and a lot in her three grass races. She went from a Gulfstream first-level allowance win to Horseshoe Indianapolis, where she led all the way in the July 4 Clarksville Handicap, and then on to New York.
Luna Louska will find her Franklin foes more formidable but has shown the ability to kick home at the head of the homestretch even after sizzling on the lead. A cut back in distance from six furlongs boosts her chances of hanging on.
Pipsy raced in Ireland at 2 before coming to America and into trainer Will Walden’s barn. She won her first start here, the Soaring Softly, rallying from last. But that’s not h+-*ow Pipsy usually runs. She’s quick out of the gate, doubly so for a European import. And, after a flat showing in the Caress, she finished a respectable fourth facing males in the $1.87 million Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs.
If, somehow, the three shortest prices decide to duel, In Our Time and, even more so, Time to Dazzle could come into play. But if the past is any guide, Future Is Now wins again.
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