SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Tyler Gaffalione knows how to make a good first impression. Last fall, riding full-time at Keeneland and Churchill Downs for the first time, Gaffalione was the leading rider at both meets. This spring, in his first time riding the Preakness Stakes, Gaffalione won the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown aboard War of Will. Beginning Thursday, Gaffalione will be riding full time at Saratoga, the premier meet in the country, for the first time. Gaffalione has already won at Saratoga, winning with the first horse he ever rode, Alien Invasion, an 11-1 shot for Mike Maker on July 24, 2017. “I went up there to ride the Caress Stakes, the horse scratched,” Gaffalione recalled. “I was fortunate to win another race. That was pretty special. I never thought I’d get to ride up there, let alone win. I was very ecstatic.” Over the last three years, Gaffalione, 24, has developed into one of the top riders in the country. He rode primarily in Florida before branching out last fall to Kentucky. Gaffalione spent the bulk of the last three summers at Gulfstream, where he has finished first or second in the standings. Gaffalione and his agent, Matt Muzikar, considered coming to Saratoga for last year’s meet, but ultimately decided against it. “He’s got to make the move at some point. Now’s as good a time as any,” Muzikar said. “This year, it seems like the right time.” Gaffalione doesn’t anticipate having the business to compete with the likes of Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, brothers who have combined to win the last four Saratoga riding titles. He is named on three horses on Thursday’s card and five on Friday, including March to the Arch in the Grade 3, $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes. “It’s a really tough meet,” Gaffalione said. “Going in, we’re going to struggle a little bit. I’m willing to put in the work. I’m excited to ride with the colony up there. There are some really good races. Hopefully, I’ll be fortunate to win a couple of races. I’m excited to compete.” Gaffalione has ridden against the top New York jockeys during the winter meet at Gulfstream Park. This past winter, he finished fourth in the standings with 70 wins. “Javier Castellano was a big help, he sits next to me in the [Gulfstream] jocks’ room,” Gaffalione said. “He was a little tough on me at times, but it was all to try and help me get better. John Velazquez, the Ortiz brothers have been great to me.” Though trainer Mark Casse said he won’t have as many horses in Saratoga this summer as in years past, he does plan to use Gaffalione on several, including Got Stormy who should return from a minor injury in the De La Rose Stakes on Aug. 3. Naturally, Gaffalione will ride War of Will wherever he runs in Saratoga, be it the Jim Dandy on July 27, the Travers on Aug. 24, or both. “I think he’s an extremely good rider and I think he proved that in the Preakness,” Casse said. “I love his attitude, I love his energy, and he’s a smart young man; kind of like a son.” Gaffalione enters the Saratoga meet having finished sixth in the Churchill standings with 26 wins, which followed a Keeneland meet in which he won 14 races, tied for second, just one back of Florent Geroux, who is going to be based primarily at Ellis this summer. Mike Maker, who put Gaffalione on seven of his Churchill winners, said Gaffalone “is a very talented jockey and he’ll do just fine” at Saratoga. The race for leading rider at Saratoga could be wide open. Irad Ortiz Jr. won the title in 2018 and 2015, while his brother Jose won it in 2016 and 2017. Jose Lezcano won the Belmont riding title by one win 44-43, over Luis Saez, with Jose Ortiz (40), Irad Ortiz (39), and Joel Rosario (39) right behind. Those five riders as well as Castellano, a four-time Saratoga leading rider, Manny Franco, Ricardo Santana Jr., Junior Alvarado, Dylan Davis, Velazquez, and Kendrick Carmouche will all fight for their share of wins at the meet. In addition to Gaffalione, a newcomer to Saratoga will be Chris Landeros, who had a solid Gulfstream meet with 31 winners. Landeros will be represented by former jockey Richard Migliore.