The sixth week of the 2025 Saratoga Race Course meeting rolls along with a 10-race card Friday topped by the $150,000 Smart And Fancy Stakes for fillies and mares sprinting on the turf.
Future Is Now, already the winner of the Grade 3 Caress at the meet and a close second in the Grade 2 Intercontinental during the Belmont Festival at Saratoga, headlines the field for the 5 ½-furlong stakes. The 5-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Great Notion is 6-5 on the morning line for the Smart And Fancy – finally run under its correct name – for trainer Mike Trombetta. Regular rider Paco Lopez returns for the call.
Other Smart And Fancy contenders include 3-1 second choice Ellen Jay for trainer Brad Cox, 6-1 Twirling Queen for Jose D’Angelo and 8-1 Sunday Girl for Dave Duggan. The Smart And Fancy goes as the ninth race with post time of 5:45.
Who do the handicappers from The Saratoga Special like? Take a look at their picks below, and remember to check the print edition Saturday for The Power Grid. They’ll be back here online Sunday and every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, plus Labor Day, until the end of the meet. Good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (78/262, -$98.90):
1-Madaket entry, Arindel entry, Jack’s World.
2-The Boondocker, Invictus, Dreamlike.
3-Employeeofthemonth, Here’syourtrouble, Sheer Will.
4-Firsttimeinforever, Strictly Taboo, Bellacose.
5-Sturdy, Policy Change, Founders.
6-Froutien, Valentine Crusader, Arctic Beast.
7-Golden Irish, Hey Cookie, Feasible.
8-Will Not Be Swayed, Silent Melody, Starlight Dancer.
9-Future Is Now, Ellen Jay, Little Prankster.
10-Chris’s Song, Undisputed, Dormello.
TOM LAW (85/263, -$22.80):
1-Madaket entry, Tim And Sam, Jack’s World.
2-Dreamlike, Ruleroftheuniverse, The Boondocker.
3-Sheer Will, Employeeofthemonth, Baby Sassicaia.
4-Strictly Taboo, Just Add Water, Bellacose
5-Sturdy, Swamp Fox, Vintage Vino.
6-Valentine Crusader, Mission Critical, Sunday Boy.
7-Golden Irish, Feasible, Hey Cookie.
8-Will Not Be Swayed, Silent Melody, Starlight Dancer.
9-Future Is Now, Ellen Jay, Twirling Queen.
10-Solo Jim, Dormello, Chris’s Song.
CHARLES BEDARD (59/259, -$131.80):
1-Madaket entry, Honoree, Arindel entry.
2-Dreamlike, Commuted, The Boondocker.
3-Sheer Will, Here’syourtrouble, Sassy Maxine.
4-Marco T., Weekend Rags, Bustin Bullet.
5-Sturdy, Rice entry, Suspiciously Named.
6-Sunday Boy, Valentine Crusader, Arctic Beast.
7-Hey Cookie, Golden Irish, Spun Size.
8-Leslie’s Star, Silent Melody, Starlight Dancer.
9-Sunday Girl, Future Is Now, Twirling Queen.
10-Solo Jim, Undisputed, Dormello.
ROB WHITLOCK (49/264, -$178.30):
1-Newlyn, Tim And Sam, Madaket entry.
2-Ruleroftheuniverse, The Boondocker, Invictus.
3-Baby Sassicaia, Here’syourtrouble, Sassy Maxine.
4-Bustin Bullet, Bellacose, Kerry.
5-The Nominees Are, Founders, Fully Booked.
6-Froutien, Valentine Crusader, Arctic Beast.
7-Golden Irish, Feasible, Circuit Court.
8-Will Not Be Swayed, Starlight Dancer, Proud Mary.
9-Future Is Now, Ellen Jay, Dontlookbackatall.
10-Kaz Oil Changer, Inspeightofcharlie, Dormello.
JESSICA PAQUETTE (41/263, -$216):
1-Newlin, Honoree, Caroline St. Beat.
2-Invictus, Incantation, Dreamlike.
3-Sassy Maxine, Sheer Will, Heresyourtrouble.
4-Bellacose, Strictly Taboo, Kerry.
5-The Nominees Are, Policy Change, Bermuda Triangle.
6-Froutien, Valentine Crusader, King Of Fog.
7-Golden Irish, Volatile Market, Feasible.
8-Proud Mary, Will Not Be Swayed, Quite Continental.
9-Future Is Now, Ellen Jay, Risk Threshold.
10-Solo Jim, Dormello, Chris’s Song.
