R. Larry Johnson's death in February was a significant blow to the racing and breeding communities of the Mid-Atlantic, but his legacy continues to live on. That was proven April 13 when his star homebred turf sprinter, Future Is Now, gutted out a victory in the $270,850 Giant's Causeway Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
The 5-year-old daughter of Great Notion traces her roots back to Ran's Chick, a mare Johnson picked up for cheap that would become a foundational piece of his breeding program. In addition to Future Is Now, that family has also produced grade 2 winner Mindframe, runner-up in last year's Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1), who appears to be a major player on the road to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) this season.
"It starts with a $2,500 Charles Town horse named Ran's Chick," Johnson's longtime friend and trainer Michael Trombetta said at the time of his death. "That was the start of it all. I mean, truly, he built something that was one-in-a-million kind of thing."
READ: Mid-Atlantic Owner/Breeder R. Larry Johnson Dies at 78
Trombetta was choked up in the winner's circle Sunday, reflecting on the moment.
"It's very sentimental. Everybody's worked hard," he said. "The family's been supportive every step of the way. It means the world."
A two-time grade 2 winner at 4, a question mark loomed over Future Is Now as she prepped for her first start since taking the Franklin Stakes (G2T) in her Keeneland debut last October. A clear 9-5 favorite on the morning line, bettors allowed her to drift up to second choice as LSU Stables' Pandora's Gift went off the favorite by a slim margin from her 6-1 morning line.
"You always worry that you're ready enough," Trombetta said about returning from a layoff. "I kept her up north all winter. I watched her very closely and I put plenty of time in her schedule in case we had bad weather. Although it was really cold, the winter did cooperate with us, and we didn't really miss any works or anything. We were able to do it."
Pandora's Gift showed why she was well fancied by the wagering public, pressing the pacesetting Future Is Now from the outset through fractions of :22.73 and :45.64. The two dueled head-to-head throughout the stretch, Pandora's Gift even taking the lead for Irad Ortiz Jr. for a matter of strides.
Future Is Now was not to be denied, gamely fighting back while being pushed by Paco Lopez to squeak out a nose victory in 1:02.72 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. She paid $6.96 to win.
Danse Macabre, last after a quarter mile, closed for third.
"I'm lucky today. (Taking the lead) was not my plan," Lopez said. "I told Michael I didn't really want to make the lead. But she broke on top and nobody else made (the lead), so we had to take it. I waited and waited until (Pandora's Gift) passed me, and then I told (Future is Now) to go and she finished very well. Michael told me, 'Today, Paco, you were really lucky.'"
Future Is Now earned her eighth victory from 15 starts, increasing her career earnings to $748,410. She is the first graded stakes winner this season for Maryland's perennial leading sire Great Notion, who stands for a private fee at Northview Stallion Station near Chesapeake City in 2025.
