Carry Back Up Next for Unbeaten Here Comes Francis

[Wandering Eyes]

The two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' Here Comes Francis (Improbable) will make his next start in the Carry Back S. going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park July 4. He worked five furlongs in a bullet :58.62 (1/3) in Hallandale Beach June 20.

“After the Carry Back, my plan is to run him in the (GI) Allen Jerkens (Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 23),” trainer Victor Barboza, Jr. said.

“He's run two times and is a very fast horse. I think middle distances–seven furlongs, one mile–are perfect for him. Step by step, he's more focused now.”

Here Comes Francis posted a razor sharp, wire-to-wire debut win over next-out winner Pursuitneversleeps (Ghostzapper) going six furlongs at Gulfstream Mar. 15, good for a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. He earned his 'Rising Star' badge by 5 1/4 lengths, also in front-running fashion, in an optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs Apr. 26. His final time of 1:16.09 for 6 1/2 furlongs that day was just 0.62 seconds off the track record.

Jeff Kresnak's Arcadia Michigan Stable went to $250,000 to acquire Here Comes Francis after powering through a :9 4/5 breeze on his left lead at last year's OBS April Sale. He was previously a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling.

Here Comes Francis hails from the first crop of the gone-too-soon Improbable. His unraced 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 S.

“Francis was always the best horse in my barn,” Barboza said. “He's a very professional and smart horse. His first and second workouts were impressive, you immediately knew you had a good horse on your hands.”

Barboza is also the previous trainer of this year's GIII Gotham S. winner Flood Zone (Frosted). The $45,000 OBS June graduate was purchased privately by Wathnan Racing and transferred to trainer Brad Cox after breaking his maiden for Barboza at second asking at Gulfstream Park for owners Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione, Guy Mancini and Veb Racing Stable Corp. Seventh in the G2 UAE Derby, Flood Zone is entered to make his next start in Sunday's Maxfield S. at Churchill Downs.

“Flood Zone is a very good horse,” Barboza said.

Here Comes Francis • Samuel Marín • Víctor Barboza, Jr. #TampaBayDowns pic.twitter.com/WD4PLunXn0

— Pascual Artiles (@artilespascualf) May 1, 2025

The post Carry Back Up Next for Unbeaten Here Comes Francis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article