Tyler Gaffalione © Benoit Photo
One of the many nice things about having a top level racetrack like Del Mar in your neighborhood is that you get to see the best of the sport. The elite horses, the top trainers and the best jockeys. This weekend fans at the seaside oval will get to see one of the top five riders in the country when Tyler Gaffalione comes to town.
He arrived at Del Mar Thursday, the first time he had been back to Del Mar since last fall’s Breeders’ Cup when he had mounts in eight of the 14 races. He rode one race Thursday, three more on Friday and he has six mounts on Saturday before he flies back to his base at Ellis Park in Kentucky on Sunday. The primary purpose for this trip is to ride Lush Lips for trainer Brendan Walsh in the G1 Del Mar Oaks but he says he likes to get out to Del Mar every chance he gets.
“I try to come every year whether it’s the summer or the fall,” Gaffalione says. “It’s one of my favorite racetracks to come visit. I love the turf course and the dirt is always fair. The people and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s top three on my list.”
Since 2020, Gaffalione has ranked right up there with the Ortiz Brothers and Flavien Prat in both wins and earnings nationwide.
“It’s just a lot of support from the horseman,” Gaffalione notes. “My agent (Matt Muzikar) does a great job finding me the right mounts, the right horses to ride. A lot of love to be honest.”
It also helps to have the talent and experience that Tyler brings to every ride.
“I’ve been doing this 10 years professionally now,” Gaffalione states, “but I’ve been riding horses since I was eight years old. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do and I’m just happy to do it.”
He calls his victory in the 2019 Preakness aboard War of Will the highlight of a career that also includes an Eclipse Award for Top Apprentice Rider in 2015 when he won 217 races and posted earnings of over $5.6 million, a number that pales in comparison to the $29.9 million he earned in 2023, a career high. Gaffalione averaged 265 wins between 2020 and 2024.
His numbers are down this year due to a broken ankle that put him out of commission for four months. He returned July 19 at Ellis Park.
“I feel great,” Gaffalione contends. “I’ve been riding three or four weeks now and getting stronger every day, getting better. Everything’s good right now.
“It was my first serious injury,” Gaffalione points out. “It took a lot more time than expected to heal. It was a lot more of the tendons not being used that took the longest time to strengthen. After working with P.T. specialists and others we were able to get it on track and I feel comfortable with it right now.”
Gaffalione served notice that everything was returning to normal when he put up a six-win day at Ellis Park last week.
“It felt amazing,” Gaffalione says. “It was one of those deals where I had a lot of confidence going into the day. My agent did a great job lining up the horses. I was really looking forward to riding that card and everything just fell into place. It was one of those days where I got into a rhythm and everything happened the way I needed it to.”
He’s hoping for similar results on Saturday. Maybe not a six win day but a victory in the G1 Del Mar Oaks would make the trip worthwhile.
“I’ve always been really high on this filly,” Gaffalione says of Lush Lips, his mount in the Oaks. “Brendan’s loved her since he first got her in the barn. We were very excited about her in the spring and she ran some really good races.
“The first time I rode her she showed a lot of speed and she did the same thing at Tampa (in the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs),” Gaffalione adds. “She got a little bit tired that day but it seems like she’s learned to relax now and is starting to show a different dimension. She’s tactical but if she relaxes she’s got a real good kick. We like our chances.”
It’s safe to assume Gaffalione will be back to Del Mar this fall for the Breeders’ Cup along with his friends Irad, Jose and Flavien.