By John Scheinman
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, November 30, 2008

Track photographer Jimmy McHugh lined up the jockey and owners for the post-race picture in the winner's circle yesterday, but trainer Michael Trombetta was back inside Laurel Park, watching one of his runners at Churchill Downs on a clubhouse monitor.

Trombetta, whose Now It Begins had just won the $50,000 Squan Song for fillies and mares, finally materialized, bounding down the steps to join the gang.

"No good up there," Trombetta said with a laugh.

He could afford to be glib. Including Now It Begins, Trombetta sent out 10 runners during the week at Laurel and won with six. He also captured a race Thanksgiving Day at Aqueduct with Now a Victor, who had not raced in more than a year. As if he needed more, his promising 2-year-old colt Smart Shot exited with a victory in a maiden race at Laurel and finished second yesterday in the $56,000 Grand Canyon Handicap earlier at Churchill Downs.

"We are very happy," Trombetta said. "It has been off the charts."

Victory in the Squan Song, a seven-furlong event for Maryland-bred runners who have never won a stakes race, proved particularly satisfying. Now It Begins, a 4-year-old daughter of Two Punch, has been nothing but a headache despite her talent. Extremely difficult to gallop in the morning, she also at times loses her head in the afternoon. In March at Laurel, she bolted nearing the three-eighths pole during the Conniver Stakes and never reached the finish line.

Charlie Forrest, a 42-year-old Jamaican-born jockey winding down his career, has made Now It Begins his personal project. Though he rides at night at Charles Town, near his Frederick home, Forrest makes a point of being at Laurel in the morning to work with the horse.

Trombetta, who could command any rider he wants, decided Forrest earned the right to ride Now It Begins. When the gate opened, Forrest pushed his mount to the lead, fended off a challenge by Lucky You and then held on against the final surge of Fascinatin' Rhythm to win by a head.

The winner ran the seven furlongs in 1 minute 25.12 seconds and paid $19.40 to win.

Now It Begins missed winning the Squan Song by a neck last year and had not won in six tries since. Forrest said, "I had a lot of horse at the wire."

Just when she appears to be straightening herself out, Now It Begins is likely through racing. Owner Larry Johnson, of Bluemont, Va., said he has booked her for a date with first-year Kentucky stallion Street Boss.

"Mike's had to work hard with her," Johnson said. "I don't know if we'll run her again."