Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
Track: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL
Race: Race 7 | Distance: 7 Furlongs (Dirt) | Purse: $75,000
Eligibility: 3-Year-Olds | Surface: Dirt
Race Overview
The Carry Back Stakes is a Listed sprint for 3-year-olds and a key feature of Gulfstream Park’s summer stakes calendar. With a field of seven evenly matched sophomores, this 7-furlong dirt dash offers a blend of early speed, tactical stalkers, and late closers—all vying for a share of the $75,000 purse.
Full Field Analysis
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Notable |
| 1 | Here Comes Francis | Emisael Jaramillo | Victor Barboza Jr. | Improbable – I Know That Mom | 2-for-2, dominant Tampa debut |
| 2 | Grand Joker | Jonathan Ocasio | Victor Barboza Jr. | Practical Joke – Vicki T | Lightly raced, needs pace |
| 3 | Mati Gol | Jose Morelos | Victor Barboza Jr. | Win Win Win – Full Flower Moon | Consistent, sharp recent works |
| 4 | Outta Money | Cipriano Gil | Tareq Moubarak | Mr. Money – Lucy in the Sky | Improving form, versatile |
| 5 | Insurmountable | Luis Fuenmayor | Antonio Sano | City of Light – Shabby Chic | Maiden winner, upside play |
| 6 | Forged Steel | Edgard Zayas | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Vekoma – Scorecard | Stakes-placed, top connections |
| 7 | Big Paradise | Miguel Vasquez | David Fawkes | The Big Beast – Paradise Bay | Layoff since Nov, sharp works |
Pedigree & Performance Insights
Forged Steel (PP6)
Pedigree: By Vekoma, known for producing fast, precocious types.
Form: 2 wins from 8 starts, stakes-placed, consistent Beyers.
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. is Gulfstream’s leading conditioner.
Edge: Tactical speed and strong late pace figures.
Here Comes Francis (PP1)
Pedigree: From the first crop of Improbable, stamina and class.
Form: 2-for-2, including a 5¼-length romp at Tampa.
Note: Inside draw and Jaramillo make him dangerous on the lead.
Big Paradise (PP7)
Pedigree: The Big Beast offspring excel at 6–7 furlongs.
Form: 2-for-2, last seen winning a stakes in November.
Concern: Long layoff, but sharp works suggest readiness.
Pace & Tactical Breakdown
Front Runners: Here Comes Francis, Forged Steel
Stalkers: Mati Gol, Big Paradise
Closers: Grand Joker, Insurmountable
Expect a moderate-to-fast pace, with Here Comes Francis and Forged Steel vying for early control. The race could set up for a mid-pack stalker like Mati Gol or a late-running Insurmountable if the leaders duel.
