As is usually the case, Tyler Gaffalione has mounts in nearly every race during Gulfstream Park's Championship season and Saturday, Fountain of Youth Day, was no exception. Gaffalione posted wins in three graded turf stakes including two surprise wins for a total of seven wins for the week. The panel of racing experts voted Gaffalione Jockey of the Week for Feb. 23-March 1.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Gaffalione went into Saturday's stakes heavy card with mounts in all but one of the day's nine stakes.
Trainer Brendan Walsh gave a leg up to Gaffalione aboard Lion Lake (IRE) in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3). Breaking from post position two at odds of 11-1, Lion Lake raced in third saving ground on the inside while Sapphire Beach with John Velazquez and race favorite Sister Troienne led the field. Lion Lake launched her bid in the final furlong reaching the wire first by a neck in 1:32.80 for one mile on the turf for three-year-old fillies.
Riding again for trainer Brendan Walsh, Gaffalione was in the irons aboard Lush Lips (GB) in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. Under regular rider Gaffalione, Lush Lips went off as the favorite in the scratched down field of seven.
Lush Lips raced in fifth down the backside as Classic Q with John Velazquez set the early fractions. Gaffalione guided the 4-year-old filly outside as the field entered the stretch catching the leader to post a neck win in 1:33.71 for one mile on the turf. It was the filly's third win in a row with Gaffalione in the saddle.
"Such a tremendous filly," Gaffalione said to Gulfstream publicity. "I just feel so honored to be able to guide her around there."
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Gaffalione aboard Grand Sonata in the Mac Diarmida (G2) for older horses on the turf. Gaffalione has ridden Grand Sonata in 16 of his 34 career starts. Off at odds of 6-1, 7-year-old Grand Sonata raced in the middle of the nine-horse field until given his cue on the turn and running down the leaders for a half-length win in 2:11.26 for a 1-3/8 mile turf test.
Gaffalione is currently in second place in the Gulfstream standings behind perennial leader Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Gaffalione rides at Gulfstream Thursday and Friday then travels to Santa Anita on Saturday for mounts aboard Dazzling Move in the Beholder Mile (G1) for Saffie Joseph, Jr., Almendares (GB) in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2) for Phil D'Amato. He also rides maiden special weights for Phil D'Amato and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert
On the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) Gaffalione rides Paladin for Chad Brown and Bella Ballerina for Brendan Walsh in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Javier Castellano with two graded stakes wins at Gulfstream, Manny Franco who won the Gotham (G3), Flavien Prat with three stakes wins two graded and Hall of Famer John Velazquez who won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
