With one day of racing remaining at the 38-day Spring Meet, jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who has quickly risen to one of the country's top riders, secured his fourth-straight title at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. and fifth overall.
Through 37 days of racing, the 26-year-old Florida native recorded 47 wins from 215 starters. He led second-place Ricardo Santana Jr. by 17 wins.
“We've been extremely fortunate to ride some top-class horses this meet,” Gaffalione said. “It's been a wild meet overall but very successful. I'm very grateful to everyone who helped me get to this point.”
Among Gaffalione's most notable wins at the meet were Sconsin in the $150,000 Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes, Field Day in the $150,000 William Walker Stakes, and Bango in the $110,000 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes.
Following Saturday's closing day card, Gaffalione plans to take some time off in Florida before heading to Saratoga for their meet, which opens July 15.
In the Spring Meet leading trainer race, three-time local champion Brad Cox held a 19-to-17 win advantage over record 24-time winner Steve Asmussen, seven-time leader Mike Maker, and Brendan Walsh. Cox had entries in Races 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12. Asmussen is the only trainer that could pass Cox with horses entered in Races 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 12. Maker and Walsh can only tie Cox with two horses entered. Maker had entrants in Races 10 and 11 while Walsh had horses in Races 4 and 11.
In the leading owner race, Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm secured at least a share of the title with six wins. He had horses entered in Races 10 and 11. He held a one-win lead over Juddmonte, who had one entrant in Race 10. Calumet Farm, who was two wins behind, had two horses entered in Races 1 and 7. Godolphin recorded three wins with one day remaining of the meet and had horses entered in Races 5, 11, and 12.
Racing in Kentucky will switch to Ellis Park starting Sunday. Live racing beneath the Twin Spires returns Thursday, Sept. 16.
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