Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

Paco Lopez (winning rider of Future Is Now)

“She’s a great filly. She can run anywhere and she’s doing great. (Trainer) Michael (Trombetta) told me, ‘Paco, she’s training super, she never missed a work.’ She did it. I’m lucky today. (Taking the lead) was not my plan. 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 she (Pandora’s Gift [IRE]) 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.’ ”

Mike Trombetta (winning trainer)

On winning in memory of longtime Mid-Atlantic owner/breeder Larry Johnson, who died Feb. 4 and whose estate now owns the homebred Maryland-bred Future is Now 

“It’s a lot. It’s very sentimental. Everybody’s worked hard and the family has been supportive every step of the way, so (the win) means the world.”

On Future is Now’s readiness for today’s race
“You always worry that you’re ready enough. I kept her up north (at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland) all winter. I watched her very closely and put plenty of time in her schedule in case we had bad weather, and although it was really cold, the winter did cooperate with us. We didn’t really miss any works or anything, so we were able to do it.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up Pandora’s Gift [IRE])

“It was a beautiful trip. I broke good, actually too good. Nobody went with the winner, so I guess I had to be close with her. (The finish) was very close, a bob of the head. We fought all the way to the wire. She was trying, unlucky that we didn’t get it.”

Joel Rosario (rider of third-place finisher Danse Macabre)

“Good trip. She broke really well. I wanted to be a little closer, but they all wanted that spot. I found a nice spot inside, and she responded really well. She is an honest filly, and she tried really hard. It was a tough race, and she did great.”