Jockey Of The Week: Gaffalione Takes First Keeneland Riding Title

After winning his first Keeneland meet riding title, Tyler Gaffalione was named Jockeys’ Guild FoundationDetox.com Jockey of the Week for October 22 – 28, 2018. The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America. Jockey of the Week is sponsored by FoundationDetox.com, America’s #1 Equine Toxin Remover.

Tyler Gaffalione’s first full meet at Keeneland was a success; after committing to riding full time in Lexington this fall, he won 15 races and earned his first career Keeneland riding title. Julien Leparoux finished in second place with 12 wins.

Among Gaffalione’s victories for the meet were the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) with Next Shares and the Lexus Raven Run (G2) with longshot filly Shamrock Rose.

In addition to his career accomplishment last week, Gaffalione also rode on opening day of the Churchill Downs fall meet and picked up a stakes win on Sunday in the $300,000 Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion Stakes with Dunph ($10.80).

For the week, he was in the money on 39% of his starts, with a win rate of 25%. With seven wins in 28 starts, he is now 215 for 1,095 in 2018 and has 962 career wins to date.

Gaffalione was the fourth leading jockey by stakes earnings, with $92,445, and was the third leading jockey by total earnings last week with $362,753. In 2018, he has earned $10,751,518 and he has career earnings in excess of $34.7 million.

The 2015 winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice jockey, Gaffalione won his first riding title that same year during the Gulfstream Park spring/summer meet.

The post Jockey Of The Week: Gaffalione Takes First Keeneland Riding Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.