Gaffalione scheduled to ride Dude Fantasy in Delta Princess Saturday
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Gulfstream Park
Tyler Gaffalione has ridden up and down the East Coast, in the Midwest and in Southern California in recent months, and the up-and-coming jockey will add Louisiana to his resume Saturday.
The 22-year-old native of Davie, FL, who won an Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice in 2015, is scheduled to ride the Ralph Nicks-trained Dude Fantasy in the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3) on Saturday’s Delta Downs Jackpot card.
“It’s pretty exciting. Ralph has given me a great opportunity to go there. It’ll be my first trip there. I’ve been watching a bunch of replays, trying to get a feel for the track,” Gaffalione said. “Hopefully, all goes well and we can get lucky there.”
Donald Dizney’s homebred 2-year-old filly is undefeated in two starts, including an off-the-pace triumph in the $500,000 My Dear Girl, the finale of the Florida Sire Stakes series on Oct. 1.
Gunnevera, who is trained by Gulfstream Park West’s leading trainer Antonio Sano, will also be at Delta Downs Saturday to compete in $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. The 2-year-old colt, who captured the Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga, will be ridden by Javier Castellano, the defending five-time champion for Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet.
Gaffalione, who has visited the winner’s circles at Belmont Park and Keeneland this fall, rode Star Empire in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 5. Compromised by bad behavior in the post parade and early crowding, his mount was subsequently eased out of the race. Gaffalione had previously finished second in the Futurity (G2) at Belmont and third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) aboard the Wesley Ward trainee.
Gaffalione is slated to return to Gulfstream Park West for Sunday’s card before venturing to Mahoning Valley Race Course to ride Awesome Banner in Monday’s $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes.
“He’s such a class horse. He should be tough in there,” Gaffalione said.
Awesome Banner, who captured the Swale (G2) and Hutcheson (G3) at Gulfstream during this season’s Championship Meet, is coming off a pair of Florida Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds.
Zayas Scores aboard Pletcher-Trained Alum for Third Win
Edgard Zayas visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle three times Thursday, capping a successful day with a 5 ½ -length victory aboard first-time starter Alum, a Todd Pletcher-trained 2-year-old son of Bodemeister, in the sixth race. The long-striding, nearly black colt ran seven-furlongs in 1:23.31 as the even-money favorite.
Zayas also scored aboard Fifties Music ($8.60) in the second and Princess Akila ($17) in the third.
The Fall Turf Festival’s leading rider will also be traveling this weekend to ride Sharp Azteca in Saturday’s $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park. Zayas rode Sharp Azteca to victory in the Pat Day Mile (G3) at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard May 7. Zayas is also scheduled to ride Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Takrees in the $100,000 Safely Kept stakes on Laurel’s Fall Festival of Racing program Saturday.
Source: Gulfstream Park West
Read More
This is the 17th and final installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the...
Forever Young earned a sparkling 140 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup...
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., posted sales of more than...
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...
A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia's most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself...