Gaffalione gets call on Clairiere for Kentucky Oaks

Round 4 of the battle between Clairiere and Travel Column in the Kentucky Oaks on April 30 will feature a new jockey for Clairiere, with trainer Steve Asmussen reporting on Tuesday night that Tyler Gaffalione had picked up the mount.

After being ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. in her first two races, Clairiere in her last two starts had been ridden by Joe Talamo. Clairiere defeated Travel Column in the Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February after Santana, scheduled to ride that day, had to cancel travel plans. Last time out, in the Fair Grounds Oaks, Travel Column got the best of Clairiere.

The scoreboard now stands at Travel Column 2, Clairiere 1, with Travel Column prevailing in the Golden Rod last fall at Churchill Downs. In each start, they have finished one-two. Their fourth meeting will be back at Churchill Downs.

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Talamo also had been the most recent rider for Asmussen-trained Midnight Bourbon, scheduled to run next in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, but two-time Derby winner Mike Smith will pick up that mount. Midnight Bourbon most recently was second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby. Earlier this year, he won the Lecomte and was second in the Risen Star, all with Talamo.