The Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s multiple graded stakes-winning mare Future Is Now will aim to defend her crown in Thursday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental at Saratoga Race Course. The 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older fillies and mares is part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Carded as Race 7, the Intercontinental is one of four stakes races on Thursday’s 10-race program, which begins at 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Future Is Now began her stellar 2024 campaign with a win in The Very One at Pimlico, sprinting five furlongs over good turf in her first outing under Paco Lopez. The duo quickly became a formidable team, combining for wins in last year’s Intercontinental, the Listed Smart N Fancy at Saratoga, and the Grade 2 Franklin at Keeneland. Their only blemish came with a close third in the Grade 3 Caress last July.

Versatile in both pace and positioning, Future Is Now has proven capable of winning from inside or outside draws, whether setting the pace or stalking under Lopez—whom Trombetta credits with playing a major role in her development.

“Her and Paco have a pretty good relationship,” Trombetta said in a NYRA release. “Early on, she was kind of keen and eager and was a kind of need-the-lead type. When Paco rode her for the first time in the The Very One, I told him that. That day, she came from third, and he was pretty adamant that she’ll do what she’s supposed to do. She was evolving into the kind of racehorse you want to have – one that can adapt – and he seems to have hit it off good with her. They appreciate each other.”

After a six-month layoff, Future Is Now returned in top form on April 13, winning the Grade 3 Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland by a nose over Pandora’s Gift. Her determined effort earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure and showed no signs of rust.

“That’s a big ask for any horse, and for her to come through and run that hard off the bench like that – we were all in awe of her,” Trombetta said. “I thought she’d run good, but for her to be pressed and then have to fight off horses that have been racing, we were over-the-top proud of her. She’s been beyond fantastic.”

A 5-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Great Notion, Future Is Now owns a strong record of 15-8-1-1 with $748,410 in earnings, including a 2-for-3 mark at Saratoga. She is out of the Bernardini mare Past as Prelude, who also produced stakes-winner Call Another Play and multiple stakes-placed Continentalcongres.

While not out of the same dam, Future Is Now and the Grade 1 winner Mindframe, by Constitution, both are from the same female family.

“She’s just a good horse,” Trombetta said. “We knew she would be a nice one early on, and she showed some real talent, but she has taken it to a whole new level.”

Lopez will ride from post 2 as the duo looks to extend their winning streak. She is the 2-1 morning line favorite.

Other contenders in the Intercontinental include beaten rival from last out Pandora’s Gift (3-1), millionaire Danse Macabre (9-2), third in the Giant’s Causeway, and Grade 3 winner Pipsy (6-1).