Jockeys Gaffalione, Irad Ortiz Jr. join Saez among those skipping trip to Dubai

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Add Tyler Gaffalione and Irad Ortiz Jr. to the list of locally based riders who will not make the trip to Dubai next week to ride on the rich Dubai World Cup card at Meydan as originally intended. Luis Saez made a similar announcement Monday.

Gaffalione was scheduled to ride Sir Winston for trainer Mark Casse in the $12 million World Cup and also was expected to pick up notable mounts from Steve Asmussen and Peter Miller on the undercard, according to his agent, Matt Muzikar. Muzikar said that trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. also contacted him regarding Gaffalione’s availability to ride Imperial Hint at Meydan.

“Tyler wasn’t comfortable with going to Dubai or the Fair Grounds this weekend to begin with in light of recent developments,” Muzikar explained. “Then we found out from Gulfstream Park management that he would be forced to undergo a 14-day quarantine and not be able to ride here for two weeks upon his return from Dubai. That kind of made the decision for him.”

“I think I’ve got arrangements made for Frankie Dettori to take our place on Sir Winston.”

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Muzikar said now that Gaffalione is staying home, he will ride Disc Jockey in the Florida Derby and Tonalist’s Shape in the Gulfstream Oaks, both on March 28. Both are trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. Also, he will ride Zulu Alpha in the Pan American on the same card.

Ortiz was scheduled to ride likely favorite Mucho Gusto in the World Cup and was in line for several other mounts, primarily from trainer Peter Miller, on the undercard.

“It was a combination of being concerned about traveling and risking the health of his family and the news of the 14-day quarantine, which kind of sealed the deal for him,” said Ortiz’s agent, Steve Rushing.

Rushing said he has nothing yet lined up for Ortiz in the Florida Derby.

Saez also cited the fear of contracting the coronavirus and passing it along to his family as the major reason he will not ride at Fair Grounds on Saturday or make the trip to Dubai the following week. Saez was slated to ride War Story in the World Cup and Shotski in the UAE Derby.

According to his agent, Richard DePass, Saez could pick up the mount on Ajaaweed in the Florida Derby. Ajaaweed is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who will take over as Saez’s agent upon Depass’s retirement at the end of the month.

One locally based jockey who still plans to make the trip to Dubai is Hall of Famer John Velazquez, his new agent, Ron Anderson, confirmed Wednesday. Velazquez is on a handful of live mounts on the World Cup card, led by Tacitus in the main event. He also has picked up the mount from Saez aboard Shotski, and will ride Killybegs Captain in the Golden Shaheen and possibly United in the Sheema Classic.

“He could end up on five horses who might go postward at odds of 3- or 4-1 or less for purses worth something like $23 million, so the tradeoff to miss 14 days when he gets back is worth it,” Anderson said.

Velazquez is scheduled to return to New York following the World Cup program. Martin Panza, senior vice president of racing for the New York Racing Association, said the 14-day quarantine period extends to anybody who goes to Dubai.

– additional reporting by David Grening