In a loaded Saturday of racing at the Spa, the Grade III Caress Stakes precedes the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt. With some of the best three year old fillies duking it out in the Coaching Club, the other graded stakes will welcome back some familiar faces from the Midlantic who have both had their fair share of success over this track.

Starting in the Caress, a five and half furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares three and up, Maryland bred Future Is Now returns after her last try in the Intercontinental last month over this turf course. Nearly missing as the post time favorite, that try would mark the fourth for her at Saratoga, where she won twice last summer. Future Is Now typically employs a forward running style and has exclusively run at five or five and half furlong turf sprints for over a year. With this aggressive style, she has hit the board in eleven of fourteen lifetime tries on turf and has not missed out on the top three over her last seven. By Great Notion – Past as Prelude, by Bernardini, this mare keeps regular rider Paco Lopez in the irons for conditioner Michael Trombetta. Even with other deserving contenders in this field, Future Is Now starts as the morning line favorite at odds of 5/2, and has a strong chance to go off as the post time favorite. With her success at Saratoga and steady performances, she should be a top consideration to capture this version of the Caress. Future Is Now was bred by R Larry Johnson, who is also the owner.

In the six furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt, the popular New Jersey bred Book’em Danno returns from Belmont weekend at the Spa off of a win in the Grade III True North stakes in the slop. Also a winner over Belmont weekend last year at this track, this four year old gelding by Bucchero – Adorabella, by Ghostzapper has two wins in three tries at Saratoga and still remains one of the most consistent dirt sprinters in the sport. A perfect three for three lifetime at six furlongs, this Derek Ryan trainee appears to be a top contender in this difficult field, rematching a pair that he ran by last time in the True North. Like Future Is Now, Book’em Danno will be ridden by Paco Lopez but usually employs a different running style. While he has won from a stalking position, this gelding is more comfortable coming from mid pack or closing from off the pace. In this six furlong race, it appears that the inside breaking Skelly will take to the lead with Mullikin the likely stalker. The pace here could determine the winning chances for Book’em Danno, but he has proven his ability to find his way into the money no matter the circumstances. Like Future Is Now, Book’em Danno starts as the 5/2 morning line favorite and will look to give the Midlantic two wins on the day in stakes races. Owned by Atlantic Six Racing LLC, Book’em Danno was bred by Gregory J Kilga and Bright View Farm. 

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