Churchill Downs: Gaffalione, Cox lock up September meet titles

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Brad Cox entered the final day of racing at Churchill Downs by already locking up their respective titles for the September meet through dominating performances across the 14-day stand.

Gaffalione and Cox both defended their titles from a year ago and set new September meet records for wins: Gaffalione with 25 victories through 13 days and Cox with 15.

Gaffalione more than doubled second-place Cristian Torres’ 12 wins prior to Sunday’s 10-race card. This will be Gaffalione’s 10th riding title at Churchill Downs since 2018 and fourth straight September meet title. Some of Gaffalione’s memorable wins were aboard Search Results in the Grade 3 Locust Grove and Bango in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

Cox’s dominant September meet led him to his seventh Churchill Downs training title. He entered the final day of racing with an insurmountable 15-6 win lead over Kenny McPeek. Among Cox’s notable victories at the meet were from his trainees Zozos in the Ack Ack (G3), Everso Mischievous in the Harrods Creek and Slip Mahoney in the Bourbon Trail.

Richard Rigney’s Rigney Racing had four wins from 11 starts at the meet and tied with Gary and Mary West. Both outfits did not have any starters Sunday. This will be Rigney’s third leading owner title at Churchill Downs after winning both the 2022 and 2023 spring meets. Gary and Mary West, whose horses are primarily in the care of Cox, recorded their fifth leading owner title and defended their title from last year’s September meet.

Only one owner could tie Rigney and the Wests on Sunday: Ken Ramsey, who had entries in races 1 and 9.