Gaffalione nips Jaramillo to win riding title

In one of the tightest finishes to a jockey race at Gulfstream Park in recent memory, Tyler Gaffalione edged Emisael Jaramillo, 63-62, to defend his title at the spring meeting, which ended Saturday. It was the sixth Gulfstream Park riding title for Gaffalione, who won an Eclipse Award as leading apprentice in 2015.

How much time Gaffalione and his agent, Matt Muzikar, will spend at Gulfstream during the summer remains to be seen.

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Gaffalione said. “I’ve been talking to my agent. We’re definitely going to be up at Saratoga quite a bit, but I’m not entirely sure if we’ll be there the whole meet or go back and forth. We’re playing it by ear right now. It depends on the horses.”

The battle for leading trainer honors during the spring session was even tighter, with defending champion Todd Pletcher, Oscar Gonzalez, and Victor Barboza Jr. dead-heating at the top with 17 wins apiece. Arindel dominated the owner standings with 14 victories.

◗ The $75,000 Mecke, originally scheduled for Wednesday’s Fourth of July program, failed to fill and is likely to go this weekend, according to racing office representatives.