Apprentice Gaffalione turns lessons into victories

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nobody would have blamed Tyler Gaffalione for becoming a little frustrated here this winter. Pitted against arguably the most talented jockey colony in the world, the young apprentice was having little luck finding the winner’s circle for much of the Gulfstream Park Championship meet.

But to Gaffalione’s credit, he channeled those frustrations into a learning experience.

Seven months into the 2015 campaign, Gaffalione has turned into one of the leading apprentices in the country and has earned his first riding title, capped off by four victories on Saturday’s card.

Gaffalione is the son of former rider Steve Gaffalione, who won more than 800 races during his 20-year career, with the bulk of those victories coming in South Florida. The younger Gaffalione waited until he graduated from high school before taking out his jockey license, while spending his summers galloping horses on the farms in Ocala. He won his first race at Gulfstream on Sept. 7 and currently has 123 career victories, 69 of those coming during the spring meet, which ends Tuesday.

“It’s really exciting to win my first jockey title,” Gaffalione said shortly after riding in all 10 races on Sunday’s card. “I think I started out like 0 for 50 this winter, with a whole bunch of second-place finishes, which was pretty frustrating. But I tried to keep calm, keep on riding, keep on learning, and what I learned back then has really helped me during this last meet.”

Gaffalione cited Javier Castellano and Edgar Prado as his two biggest mentors here during the winter, while adding names like John Velazquez, Julien Leparoux, and Rajiv Maragh to the list of those who gave him pointers and advice along the way. Of course, at the top of that list was his father, with whom he speaks regularly.

“My father is really cool, he’s really helped me out a lot,” Gaffalione said. “He’s always been right there for me, before I even started out riding. He watches the replays of all my races and is constantly giving me advice and support. I talk with him on a regular basis. Even sometimes between races, if I have a break.”

Gaffalione said he believes the turning point for him came during the latter stages of the championship meet when he won a few races on the turf.

“I had a really low win percentage on grass this winter,” Gaffalione said. “But I finally got the hang of it, won some races on the turf, and it’s been a big key to my success. Not only because about 50 percent of the races here are on the grass, but riding the turf teaches you about patience, which transfers over to the dirt as well.”

Gaffalione said he studies the Daily Racing Form at least one or two hours each day prior to the races and also goes over replays on a regular basis with his agent, Walter Blum Jr., to pick up on “what I’ve done right, what I’ve done wrong, and what I can improve on next time.”

Gaffalione, with 95 victories and nearly $2.2 million in purse earnings this season, ranks among the leaders in both categories among apprentices throughout the nation.

“I don’t think about or put any extra pressure on myself regarding the Eclipse Award,” Gaffalione said. “If it happens, it happens. It would be such an honor to even be nominated, let alone win it, but that’s a long way off. Right now, I just hope to continue the success I’ve been having and maybe, someday, winding up riding in New York, although not right now. I’m planning on staying right here, at least through next year. I love it at Gulfstream. This is my home.”