Gulfstream: Gaffalione Realizes ‘Dream Come True’ With Derby Mount

By David Joseph —-

Gaffalione Realizes ‘Dream Come True’ With Derby Mount
Gulfstream’s Leading Rider Gets First Derby Mount in Patch
Admiral Jimmy Equals Track Record
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover $42,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s leading rider Tyler Gaffalione has his first mount in the Kentucky Derby (G1) when he rides Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Patch Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“It’s a dream come true,” said the 22-year-old, whose father Steve was a jockey and winner of more than 800 races. “Everyone says it, but from such an early age it’s all I ever thought about it. Just to be here, it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Patch, trained by Todd Pletcher, who has won Gulfstream’s Championship Meet title the past 14 consecutive years, broke his maiden at Gulfstream under jockey John Velazquez Feb. 18. The son of Union Rags was then sent to Fair Grounds where he finished second behind Girvin in the Louisiana Derby.

“The horse was a little green, it was his first time around two turns, but he handled it well and finished well down the lane,” Gaffalione said.

Gaffalione said he has a group of 12 family members and friends that will travel to Louisville for the race.

Meanwhile, Gaffalione won three races Wednesday. He rode both ends of the early double with Smart Romance ($2.60) in the first race and Tempter ($4.80) in the second and the sixth with Diaz ($7.60).

Admiral Jimmy Equals Track Record

Siena Farm LLC’s homebred Admiral Jimmy, a 2-year-old by Jimmy Creed, won at first asking Wednesday, equaling the track record for 4 ½ furlongs of :51.07, set by multiple graded-stakes winner Awesome Banner in 2015.

Admiral Jimmy stalked Kingston Pike down the backstretch before pulling alongside the pacesetter entering the turn and pulling away down the stretch to a 3 ½-length victory.

Awesome Banner, winner of the 2015 Swale (G2) and Hutcheson (G3), is currently training at Laurel Park. He hasn’t raced since finishing ninth in April in the Carter (G1) at Aqueduct.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover $42,000

Gulfstream will have a 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover Thursday of $42,453.00

There were multiple winning tickets Wednesday in the Rainbow 6. Those with the winning combination (7-3-5-2-6-6) received $129.38.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of the day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.