Improbable Colt Here Comes Francis Gallops At Tampa, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

[Wandering Eyes]

Arcadia Michigan Stable's Here Comes Francis, a son of the gone-too-soon Improbable, improved his record to two impressive victories from as many trips to the races, as the chestnut bossed a field of entry-level allowance rivals by 5 1/4 comprehensive lengths Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, becoming the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his efforts.

Having cost $100,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, the Feb. 23 colt breezed his eighth of a mile in a slick :9 4/5 ahead of last year's OBS April Sale–all while doing it greenly and on his incorrect lead–and was knocked down to owner Jeff Kresnak for a quarter-million dollars.

Despite the presence of $3-million 2023 KEESEP topper Vibe (Into Mischief) in a six-furlong maiden at Gulfstream Park Mar. 15, the money was very much on Here Comes Francis, as he jumped as the 19-10 second choice. Very quickly into stride, he galloped his rivals through lively fractions of :22.29 and :44.81 and despite having gone that hard, still managed to stop the clock in 1:09.57, good for a lofty 97 Beyer Speed Figure. The form of the race had already been…ehem…'franked' when Vibe returned to romp by nearly 10 lengths going a mile in Hallandale Beach Apr. 19, and Here Comes Francis was duly sent off the 1-5 mortal on Florida's Suncoast on Saturday.

After proving a bit stubborn to load, the Victor Barboza, Jr. trainee once again flew the gates and coasted through an opening quarter in :22.96 with Samuel Marin motionless in the saddle. Opening up on his rivals at will on the turn, Here Comes Francis cornered a touch wide after a half in :46.14 and covered his final five-sixteenths in a strong :29.95 while never asked a serious question. The final time was just 0.62 seconds off the track record.

The winner's dam is a daughter of the talented Tar Heel Mom (Flatter), a three-time graded winner at sprint distances and runner-up to Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier) in the 2011 GI Ballerina Stakes. I Know That Mom is a full-sister to Vorticity, a stakes winner at two and second in the GIII Jerome Stakes and in GIII Withers Stakes at three in 2016. Tar Heel Mom's half-brother Scrappy T (Fit to Fight) won the 2005 Withers, but is best remembered for nearly taking down Afleet Alex at the top of the stretch of that year's GI Preakness Stakes.

I Know That Mom is also the dam of a yearling colt by Global Campaign and she produced a filly by that WinStar-based son of Curlin this past Feb. 17.

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $34,550, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($75,000), 4-26, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.09, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
HERE COMES FRANCIS, c, 3, by Improbable
1st Dam: I Know That Mom, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Tar Heel Mom, by Flatter
3rd Dam: Perpetual Light, by Sunny's Halo
Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $61,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Arcadia Michigan Stable; B-Upson Downs Farm & WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Victor Barboza Jr.

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