Tyler Gaffalione | Horse Racing Free Tips

Impressive Maiden Winner Prevalence Could Show Up In Fountain Of Youth

Godolphin's sophomore homebred Prevalence, an impressive debut winner on the Pegasus World Cup (G1) undercard Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, breezed Friday morning in anticipation of a possible start in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Saturday, Feb. 27.

With exercise rider and assistant trainer Tom Molloy up, Prevalence went five furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. It was the second work following his 8 ½-length maiden special weight triumph.

“He worked good and he galloped out good. We're happy with him,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “We're in good shape right now.”

Prevalence was sent off at 7-1 in his unveiling, which drew a full field of 12 including fellow first-time starter Stage Raider, a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, and narrow favorite Holy Redeemer, by Blame.

After breaking a half-step slow, Prevalence quickly gathered himself and chased the pace for a quarter-mile before taking over the top spot through a half in 46.09 seconds. From there, the bay Medaglia d'Oro colt widened with each stride under a hand ride from Tyler Gaffalione, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.

“I thought he was a good horse before he ran, but did I expect him to do what he did? Absolutely not, especially one of mine first time out,” Walsh said. “They generally improve, so I would like to think that this guy has some improvement in him. We won't get too carried away. We'll move on to the next one, and he'll be given plenty of chances to prove himself as we go forward.”

The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth is the next step for 3-year-olds on Gulfstream's road to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27. There is also an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in the condition book for Thursday, Feb. 25.

“He ran so well at Gulfstream the last time we would probably like to keep him in something at Gulfstream. There's the Fountain of Youth and there's an allowance race there, as well. It's probably going to be one or the other,” Walsh said.

“We'll just see how he does here over the next few weeks and go from there. We'll let him tell us,” he added. “He'll probably have just a little work next weekend at some stage. If we go to the Fountain of Youth or the allowance race, he'll probably do a little bit next Friday or Saturday and that should set him up right.”

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Irad Ortiz Jr. Rides Six Winners At Gulfstream: ‘Tomorrow, Everybody WIll Forget’

Two-time defending Championship Meet titlist Irad Ortiz Jr. rode six winners on Saturday's 12-race program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

After notching a natural hat trick with victories aboard Hard Game ($8) in Race 2, Noble Empire ($3) in Race 3 and Bourbon in May ($7.60) in Race 4, Ortiz scored aboard Great Island ($2.60) in Race 6, the $100,000 Suwannee River, Democracy ($15.60) in Race 7, and R Mercedes Boy ($5.60) in Race 9.

Ortiz has ridden a meet-leading 76 winners, 16 more than Luis Saez.

“You never think that you're going to win that many races, but you come here positive,” Ortiz said. “You try to win every race. I ride all my horses with the same mind. I try to win, no matter what. I think that helps. I got the right horses, too. My agent does a great job and all the trainers support me. They give me a lot of good chances, and the owners. Right now, we're in a good position, thank God. I'm glad. I feel great.

“It's pretty great. You don't have too many days like this, so I just enjoy it. For me, honestly, I go home and it's just another day. Tomorrow everybody will forget what happened today. I just move on. I celebrate the way I want to; I go home with my family. That's it, and tomorrow is a new day.”

The record for most wins on a Gulfstream program is 7, shared by Jerry Bailey (3/11/96), Tyler Gaffalione (7/4/17), Luis Saez (1/24/18 and 3/29/18) and Paco Lopez (3/21/20).

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Chess’s Dream Takes Kitten’s Joy, Giving Sire Jess’s Dream First Stakes Winner

Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchey, Bethlehem Stables and Chester Bishop's Chess's Dream got a ground-saving trip under Tyler Gaffalione and slipped through an opening along the rail in mid-stretch to upset Saturday's $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The ninth running of the Kitten's Joy for 3-year-olds going a mile on the grass was the first of five graded-stakes worth $600,000 in purses on a 12-race program highlighted by the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3), Gulfstream's next step for 3-year-olds on the road to the March 27 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1).

Fresh off his maiden triumph in a 7 ½-furlong turf sprint Dec. 13 at Gulfstream, Chess's Dream ($18.60) completed the distance in 1:35.18 over a firm course to become the first stakes winner for sire Jess's Dream, a son of Hall of Famers Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.

Based at Gulfstream with trainer by Mike Maker, Chess's Dream is also a half-brother to 2019 Kitten's Joy winner Casa Creed. He was cross-entered in Sunday's Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston.

“It's very nice when you make the right decision. It's definitely a 50-50 proposition,” Dubb said. “I held my breath and made sure he'd be able to get through. He got through and he was much the best, so we're just over the moon.”

Flanked by 1-5 favorite Never Surprised, making his sophomore debut after going unbeaten at 2 capped by a victory in Aqueduct's Central Park, Chess's Dream settled in third as Original, a 12-1 long shot shipping in from New York, ran a quarter-mile in 23.30 seconds and a half in 47.54 pressed by Kentucky Pharoah, a winner of his last two starts over the same course and distance, including the Dania Beach Jan. 2.

Gaffalione stayed patient as he remained in striking position on the turn awaiting room, which materialized once the field straightened for home. Gaffalione sent Chess's Dream through and the Florida-bred colt sprinted clear to win by two lengths as Never Surprised emerged from a three-way photo finish with Original and Sigiloso for second. Kentucky Pharoah and It's a Gamble completed the order of finish.

“I knew there was going to be a lot of speed. It kind of surprised me when Johnny [Velazquez on Original] committed early, but I had the perfect position down on the fence. I was able to save ground,” Gaffalione said. “On the far turn, in looked like Johnny's horse was trying to get out a little bit on him. I didn't panic and a hole opened up and when I asked him he really accelerated. He's a long-striding colt. He'll just get better the longer he goes.”

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Maker Continues Master Of W.L. McKnight With 1-2 Finish Led By Tide Of The Sea

Trainer Mike Maker continued his domination of the $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) at Gulfstream Park Saturday, winning for the fourth time in five years with the 1-2 finish of Tide of the Sea and Temple.

The McKnight, run at 1 ½ miles on the turf, was the fifth of seven stakes on Saturday's program that was headlined by the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

Maker started his run of success in the McKnight with Taghleeb in 2017 and followed with victories by Oscar Nominated in 2018 and Zulu Alpha in 2019. Last year, Spooky Channel narrowly ended the winning streak, prevailing by a neck over Maker's Cross Border. Maker also saddled the third- and fifth-place finishers.

Under jockey Tyler Gallalione, Tide of the Sea, owned by Three Diamond Farm, led from gate to wire and stopped the timer in 2:24.57, giving Gaffalione his fourth win of the program. The 5-year-old son of English Channel earned his first graded stakes victory by a three-quarters of a length over Temple, owned by Paradise Farms. Sent off at 4-1 in the wagering, Tide of the Sea paid $10 to win.

Wagering favorite Doswell, whose run in the stretch was compromised when he had to check near the eighth pole, finished third.

$150,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) Quotes

Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Tide of the Sea): “His best races were in front when he gets loose comfortably. He traveled great throughout and I just let him do his own thing. He finished up really well when the horse (Temple) came up and challenged him. All credit goes to Mike (Maker) and his team.”

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