Gaffalione building on his success in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For more than 20 years, Pat Day was the perennial leading rider at Kentucky racetracks. When Day retired in 2005, Rafael Bejarano inherited his role, but he soon left for California, after which Julien Leparoux took a turn.
Starting in 2012, Corey Lanerie earned a remarkable 19 riding titles at Churchill Downs while sprinkling in a few more at Keeneland and Ellis Park. Now, however, there’s a new kid on the block bidding to permanently unseat Lanerie – Tyler Gaffalione, who in recent months has been the leading jockey at the Churchill spring, Kentucky Downs, Churchill September, and Keeneland fall meets.
Gaffalione, 26, topped the Keeneland meet that ended Saturday with 24 wins, furthering his rapid ascent in the local and national ranks. It’s been quite a progression for Gaffalione, the 2015 Eclipse Award winner for top apprentice, since he decided two years ago to leave a year-round Florida gig to work a circuit that consists of Kentucky in the spring and fall, Saratoga in the summer, and Gulfstream Park in the winter.
“I feel so blessed just to have the opportunities I’ve been given,” Gaffalione said between races during the Sunday opener of the Churchill fall meet. “All the credit goes to the horsemen and the owners and my agent [Matt Muzikar]. None of this would be possible without them.”
Gaffalione, who won the 2019 Preakness on War of Will, passed up the mount on Swiss Skydiver, who wound up winning the Oct. 3 Preakness with Robby Albarado riding for trainer Ken McPeek. Because of pandemic-related travel restrictions, Gaffalione would have had to miss the first three days of the Keeneland meet (Oct. 2-4), when 10 graded stakes were run.
Turns out, it was a win-win situation for everyone.
“I’m very happy for Kenny and his team and Robby, too,” Gaffalione said. “Swiss Skydiver is such an incredible filly. The way things went, we were committed here, but it seems like it all worked out well for everybody.”
Turf distaffers in spotlight
Sunshine and high temperatures in the mid-60s are forecast for Wednesday, when the first five-day week of the Churchill fall meet gets under way at 1 p.m. Eastern with a 10-race program.
The only allowance of the card drew a full field of 10 fillies and mares, plus two also-eligibles, scheduled to go the three-turn distance of 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Stand Tall, who earned a field-high 86 Beyer Speed Figure when fifth in the Dueling Grounds Oaks in her last start, is a lukewarm 3-1 morning-line favorite over Quiet Dignity and Coilean Bawn, the co-second choices at 7-2.
Fans are being permitted entry at this meet under pandemic-related health and safety protocols. Churchill reported ontrack attendance of 1,534 for the Sunday opening of the 24-day meet.