Nownownow up in time in Juvenile Turf

Nownownow tackles the invader Achill Island in the shadow of the post (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Fab Oak Stable’s homebred NOWNOWNOW (Whywhywhy) collared 5-2 favorite Achill
Island (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) in the final strides to claim Friday’s inaugural
$916,000

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf by a half-length. Now conditioned by Francois
Parisel, who took over from suspended trainer Patrick Biancone, the bay colt
completed the mile on the yielding turf in 1:40 2/5.

Under a patient Julien Leparoux, Nownownow settled at the rear of the
12-horse field. Up front, Prussian (Danzig) led the way while clocking splits of
:24 1/5, :49 2/5 and 1:15, closely attended by The Leopard (Storm Cat) and
Domestic Fund (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). By the time they reached the stretch,
however, the early pace factors had nothing more to give on the soggy ground.
Achill Island, who had been rating near the back of the pack, stayed on strongly
to reach contention and then strike the front. The Irish shipper appeared to
have victory within his grasp, until Nownownow came charging down the center of
the course and reeled him in as they approached the wire.

“I moved at the quarter-pole and I knew I was going to get it in the
stretch,” Leparoux said. “The turf is not too deep, it’s just wet.”

“The weather was an obvious worry, but we knew he had the breeding on both
sides to handle the soft going,” Parisel said. “Mr. Biancone deserves a lot of
the credit. This was a team effort.”

Trainer Aidan O’Brien was thrilled with Achill Island.

“He ran a stormer,” O’Brien enthused. “We’re delighted. He came to win his
race, and just got nabbed on the line. He doesn’t like the ground that way
(soft), so he ran a huge race. He’ll be a lovely horse next year.”