Gaffalione enjoys dream weekend
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – This past weekend was one to remember for jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
On Saturday, Gaffalione guided Fast and Accurate to a 24-1 upset victory in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway Park and perhaps earned his first Kentucky Derby mount. Owned by Kendall Hansen and trained by Mike Maker, Fast and Accurate now has enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
On Sunday, Gaffalione won three races at Gulfstream, including the 500th winner of his career, More Front for trainer Chad Brown in the fourth race.
“Saturday was great,” said Gaffalione, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 2015. “It’s like a dream come true to ride for people like Mr. Maker and Mr. Hansen, a great opportunity. It’s all up to them, but if they asked me to ride the horse in the Derby, I’d love to.”
Gaffalione’s three winners on Sunday left him in sole possession of third place in the jockey standings for the meet, behind only Luis Saez and Paco Lopez.
“Winning my 500th race was real special,” said Gaffalione. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for a while now and glad I can get past it and move on.”
Gaffalione thanked his agent, Matt Muzikar, “and all the owners and trainers who have ridden me for the great meet I’ve had thus far.”
Gaffalione said he’ll decide this week whether he’ll remain at Gulfstream Park after the championship meet ends Sunday or move his tack to New York for the spring.