by Nicolle Neulist, for the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association

Hinsdale, IL — Juan Franco began driving in races in 2016, starting with his first qualifier in January. He made his first pari-mutuel start on May 13, driving Fox Valley Ruby for Donald Freese. He got his first win nine days later for trainer Nelson Willis, driving Parklane Dragon to victory. From there, he won $299,802 in purses last year, his first full year driving in pari-mutuel races.

Even though it is only mid-August, he is already prepared to eclipse that figure. As of Aug. 21, he has 39 wins in 514 purse starts, and has captured $290,938 in purses.

Most of his starts have come in Illinois, mainly at Hawthorne, though some at Springfield as well. He has also traveled to drive for Nelson Willis at both Miami Valley Raceway and Hoosier Park, finishing in the money outside of Illinois with Oh Josephine, Delight Fashion, and Jewel Maker. Franco enjoys all of his opportunities to drive, but being here is particularly special because it has become his home.

“I love Hawthorne. This is my place. I really enjoy my time racing horses here in Illinois.”

Born in Guatemala, Juan Franco spent time around horses from an early age, though Standardbreds were not his first breed.

“I grew up with horses in my country. My dad had horses. I’d ride the Quarter Horses for him.”

When he moved to the United States, he wasn’t yet fluent in English, but already knew horses well, so he began by hot-walking Thoroughbreds at Hollywood Park.

He then decided to come to Chicago, since he had a brother-in-law who lived in the area and worked in harness racing. He began with trainer Donald Freese, though his driving ambitions were not kindled until a few years later, when he was working for trainer Nelson Willis, training and jogging horses.

“Nelson Willis said that I had a little talent as a driver. He said, how can we make you a driver? I studied the books, I passed my test, and now I am a driver.”

Four Footed Fotos photo

Juan Franco drove trotter Walter White to a track record on Aug. 4.

On Aug. 4, Franco drove into the Hawthorne history books. In that evening’s Open Trot he drove Jim Eaton trainee Walter White, who went off at odds of 9-1 behind the summer’s usual suspects at that level, the likes of Anna’s Lucky Star, Primed N Powerful, and Picky Picky Valor. Drawn wide and parked through the first turn, he seized the lead into the backstretch and never let it go. He drew off to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3, tying the older trotter mark set by Dink Adoo on July 15, 2005.

The track record journey was the first time Franco had driven Walter White.

“This is an amazing horse, with a real good trainer,” said Franco. “We were talking about the race, about five minutes before the race. That’s it. I knew I had a good horse — that’s the only thing I knew. I’ve got to give him a chance to win, or get a check. All the race, it worked out, it looked like I had to go to the front. I didn’t expect he’d go that fast. But, the horse impressed me. He’s an amazing horse, he can handle that. He worked hard, and made me look good.”

Walter White is not his only triumph. This summer at Hawthorne, Franco has made his mark driving longshots to sparkling performances.

Franco also had a breakout run on the pacing side earlier this meet, when he drove Roshun Trigg trainee Ryans Mistress to a clean sweep of the David Magee, a late closer for ICF 3- and 4-year-old fillies who were non-winners of $10,000 as of March 31 of this year. Leading into the series, the daughter of Ryan N Hanover was hardly fancied. Let off at 27-1 odds, she rallied to win by 1-1/4 lengths despite being parked the whole second turn.

That would be the closest anyone in the series would get to Ryans Mistress at the wire.

A week later she unleashed her stretch kick to win by 1-3/4 lengths, despite again drawing relatively wide and being parked the second turn. In the final — the only leg in which Ryans Mistress went off the favorite — he carved out that trip once again. Franco settled Ryans Mistress at the rear after drawing the outermost gate, and drove into the far turn parked but rallying behind live cover. The only difference was, they struck the front in upper stretch that time, and secured their greatest margin of victory all series long, 2-3/4 lengths.

Juan Franco’s favorite part about his emerging driving career is the teamwork. He appreciates working with everyone responsible for developing and conditioning horses, and helping bring out their best potential on race day.

“It’s a lot of fun. I like to work as a team: the groom, trainer, owner, and driver are like a whole team. It’s a good sport. I have to give thanks to God for letting me do what I do right now. I’m happy with what I do.”