Phipps Homebred Now and Later Ending Layoff at Churchill

Phipps Stable’s homebred Now and Later is ending a two-month layoff on Friday, June 14th in Race 5 at Churchill Downs. The mile-and-a-half allowance race over the turf is for ages three years and older. Breaking from post 7 in a field of 10, the Candy Ride colt will have Edgar Morales aboard. Post time is 2:45 pm Eastern.

Now and Later broke his maiden three starts back over the turf in July 2023 at Delaware Park, after which he had a seven-month layoff. In his first start of his 4-year-old campaign this February over Turfway Park’s all-weather track, he worked some rust off with an 11th place finish. He significantly moved forward last time out finishing a close fourth over the turf in mid-April at Keeneland and earning a career best 80 Beyer speed figure.

Now and Later is the second foal out of Phipps-bred Arch mare Vagabond and a half-brother of graded stakes-winning mare Surprisingly, by Mastery. Vagabond’s third dam is Phipps foundation mare Our Country Place (a half-sister to champion Sky Beauty), acquired by Ogden Phipps in 1993. This is the family of grade 1 winners Guarana, Pine Island, Pleasant Home, and Point of Entry.

Photo: Now and Later breaking his maiden on July 1, 2023 Delaware Park with jockey Feargal Lynch aboard.