Gaffalione picking up mounts before Del Mar Oaks
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DEL MAR, Calif. – A day off in the middle of this week in a Southern California beach town may be the ideal way for jockey Tyler Gaffalione to celebrate a six-win day at Ellis Park on Sunday.
For Gaffalione, a trip west this week is a working one.
After riding at Ellis Park on Monday, Gaffalione was set to travel to Del Mar on Tuesday. He is booked to ride one race at Del Mar on Thursday and three on Friday in advance of a mount on Lush Lips in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, the primary reason for the trip to California.
“I figured I can enjoy the time I’ve got” at Del Mar, Gaffalione said over the weekend. “Usually, it’s an in-and-out trip.”
Lush Lips, trained by Brendan Walsh for a partnership that includes Medallion Racing and Steve Weston, won the $250,000 Tepin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf June 28 at Churchill Downs for her first stakes win. Flavien Prat had the mount.
Gaffalione has ridden Lush Lips twice, to a victory in a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in January and a second in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs in March.
Lush Lips will start at 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks.
“I don’t see it being an issue,” Gaffalione said. “We’ve always thought really highly of her.
“She’s tactical. She’s really been patient of late.”
Lush Lips will be tested in the Del Mar Oaks by expected favorite Thought Process, a three-time stakes winner.
Gaffalione has had success in Grade 1 races at Del Mar, winning the 2019 Matriarch on Got Stormy and the 2022 Del Mar Oaks on Spendarella.
On Sunday, Gaffalione’s six-win day included four stakes. The milestone was one win shy of a seven-win day he achieved on July 4, 2017, at Gulfstream Park.
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