Michael Trombetta speedster Future Is Now returns to Saratoga looking for a repeat in the Grade II Intercontinental Stakes of 2025 on Thursday, June 5 after winning the $200,000 turf sprint for fillies and mares at the Belmont Racing Festival 12 months ago.
Now a five-year-old, the daughter of Great Notion went on to more graded successes in the Commonwealth of Kentucky either side of her winter break. Future Is Now landed the Franklin Stakes around Keeneland in the fall, before returning there with victory in the Giant’s Causeway this spring.
As she only won the latter by a nose from re-opposing runner-up Pandora’s Gift, however, she must find more. Future Is Now should take a step forward fitness wise for that reappearance on the track, but Belmont Stakes betting sites have her as something of an uneasy favorite.
Under the conditions of the Intercontinental Stakes in 2025, she now concedes 6lb to Pandora’s Gift and Danse Macabre instead of 2lb. It puts the re-opposing second and third from Keeneland on 4lb better off with Future Is Now. Both have a length or less to find with her.
Both of these rivals now represent the Miguel Clement barn after joining from other trainers. Late father Christophe won this race back in 2015 with Zindaya, who switched stables herself and landed it again the following year for Chad Brown.
Morning Line oddsmakers suggest Pandora’s Gift, previously trained in England, is a bigger threat to Future Is Now, despite the fact that Danse Macabre beat the favorite last season. That 4lb swing in weight gives both definite claims.
Casse Barn Runs Three in Intercontinental Stakes of 2025
Mark Casse also has multiple entries with the Morning Line odds favoring Run For The Hills despite the highest draw. A five-year-old mare by Runhappy, she could only manage fifth in this race 12 months ago.
Run For The Hills hasn’t reproduced her close third in last season’s Unbridled Sidney Stakes in graded company yet. Finishing down the field in similar turf sprints on a number of occasions, she has won a minor race over course and distance before.
Although landing her prep race for the Intercontinental Stakes in 2025, another optional claimer at Churchill Downs, Run For The Hills must improve plenty on that to justify her relatively short forecast price.
Casse also runs a couple of longshots in Creed’s Gold and Time To Dazzle. The latter may be the most interesting of the three in his barn. Time To Dazzle chased home On Command in the License Fee Stakes around Aqueduct last time. Those two meet again here.
Time To Dazzle previously missed the show by a head in the Grade II Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs in the fall. Conceding 6lb to subsequent Churchill Distaff Turf Mile heroine Simply In Front on that occasion in second was Pipsy.
William Walden’s four-year-old Kodiac filly meets old rival Kairyu off level weights now, but does has something to find with Future Is Now and Pandora’s Gift on Franklin Stakes form.
Intercontinental Stakes 2025 Post Positions & Morning Line Odds
- Pandora’s Gift (118lbs) – 3-1
- Future Is Now (124lbs) – 2-1 fav
- On Command (122lbs) – 15-1
- Danse Macabre (118lbs) – 9-2
- Twirling Queen (124lbs) – 8-1
- Pipsy (118lbs) – 6-1
- Kairyu (118lbs) – 10-1
- Time To Dazzle (118lbs) – 20-1
- Creed’s Gold (120lbs) – 15-1
- Run For The Hills (124lbs) – 5-2
Our Handicapper’s Win Place Show Bets for Intercontinental Stakes 2025
Win: Future Is Now
Across The Board: Pandora’s Gift
Place: Danse Macabre
Show: Pipsy
Longshot: Time To Dazzle
WACH: Future Is Now Win the Race in 2024
