Wonder Wheel | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wonder Wheel and Forte Collect 2-Year-Old Eclipse Awards

Breeders' Cup Juvenile races produced both the 2-year-old filly and colt champions, with Wonder Wheel taking the filly statue and Forte leading the colts.

WONDER WHEEL
Each spring, as most trainers get their promising 2-year-olds ready to begin their careers, invariably one or two (or maybe more, depending on the conditioner) of these youngsters stand out. And just as invariably, these trainers hold their breath and cross everything they can cross to help ensure everything goes right enough that the end result–a Breeders' Cup win–produces the ultimate result–the Eclipse Award.

For Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse, Wonder Wheel was that horse in 2022. Some trainers cautiously follow the old idiom of playing cards close to their vest, but not Casse. Nobody didn't know how he felt about Wonder Wheel early on.

“This summer I was saying she's my next Classic Empire,” Casse said, comparing the daughter of Into Mischief to his 2016 juvenile champion. “And where I was putting her, why I was putting her in that category was he won our first 2-year-old Breeders' Cup. And I thought that she was that good. I told anybody who would listen.”

With one notable exception, Wonder Wheel turned in a classic championship-style season which garnered her two Grade I wins.

After breaking her maiden at first asking back in June, her first foray into stakes company produced a 6 3/4-length win in the Listed Debutante S. at Churchill Downs on Independence Day. That dominant performance earned her a spot in the GI Spinaway S. gate at Saratoga two months later and, though it wasn't the smoothest of trips for the filly that day–some would say she ran “greenly”–she still managed a decent runner-up finish to fellow Eclipse Award finalist Leave No Trace (Outwork).

She was a 4-1 lukewarm favorite in the GI Darley Aclibiades S. at Keeneland Oct. 7 in her next start and had to work for it, barely holding off the highly regarded Chop Chop (City of Light) by a diminishing nose in that wire-to-wire performance. And by the time those two met again in the Breeders' Cup, she was a 6-1 fourth choice while her Alcibiades runner-up carried favoritism.

And in a somewhat surprising move that day, Wonder Wheel wasn't anywhere near her preferred spot as the leader or among them, she was in front of just two rivals in the early going. In an effort expected from older runners rather than lightly raced 2-year-olds, the bay filly saved ground in the early going, quietly gained on her rivals on the turn, snuck through the narrowest of gaps at the quarter pole, took advantage with an eighth left to run and stormed home to win by three lengths.

“Two-year-olds can't do what she did. It's just very difficult to come from out of it,” Casse said. “She, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being absolute class, she's a 10.”

Wonder Wheel is owned by Len and Lois Green's D J Stables, which also campaigned 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile fillies winner Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) in partnership with Cash Is King Stable. Len Green is a CPA and lecturer at Babson College and a graduate of the Harvard Business School. He regularly writes and lectures on financial issues affecting horse owners. He is undoubtedly an expert on profits and losses, rewards and risks. The next big risk for Wonder Wheel could perhaps be taking on the boys in the GI Kentucky Derby.

“I'm sure we'll be nominating,” Casse said.

Wonder Wheel was given a couple months off over the winter and has been back to work at Casse's Florida training center, with a 2023 debut yet to be determined.

-Margaret Ransom

FORTE
He may not have been the most expensive of the 43 yearlings Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola bought out of the 2021 Keeneland September sale when the hammer fell at $110,000 that day, but Forte certainly can claim the title of most successful when he capped off an impressive year by collecting the Eclipse Award trophy as the best 2-year-old colt or gelding of 2022.

Much has been made of the colt's name, which means “strong” in Italian and follows the Italian-themed pattern of names for other top Repole/St. Elias runners, like champion and 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso (Curlin). But another meaning says the word denotes, “something in which one excels; a peculiar talent or faculty; a strong point or side; chief excellence.” Not much to argue against that meaning, either, where Forte is concerned.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who conditioned 2010 champion juvenile Uncle Mo for Repole and also Forte's sire, selected the colt for one primary reason.

“He looks like Violence,” Repole said.

Forte was the 1-5 favorite in his debut at Belmont Park May 27 off some incredible works and backstretch buzz, and he ran to his odds, dominating his opponents by 7 3/4 lengths to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' moniker. He also justifiably earned his position as a leading force to be reckoned with in the 2-year-old stakes ranks on the East Coast. For a little while, anyway.

As is more common than not with growing and maturing juveniles, that rolling boil of excitement cooled to a simmer when he turned in an unexpected and well-beaten fourth-place finish as the favorite in his stakes debut in the GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga July 16. His connections offered no excuses and continued to look ahead, the year-end goal of the Breeders' Cup always within their crosshairs.

Finding some added distance and a wet track to his liking for his next start, as well as no pressure as the near 7-1 fourth choice, was all he needed to put in a three-length romp in the sloppy GI Hopeful S. and return to the rank as the best 2-year-old based in New York.

While the logical and typical next move for the leading colt on the right coast as a last prep for the Breeders' Cup would have been the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park, Forte's connections decided to call an audible since the Breeders' Cup would be held at Keeneland, choosing instead to use the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity as a springboard to the World Championships. Dismissed as the near 9-2 second choice, he rolled from way back to earn a neck win over 7-5 favorite Loggins (Ghostzapper).

Despite his impressive fall campaign of two Grade I wins, on Future Stars Friday, Forte was the 5-1 second choice to the highly regarded Bob Baffert-trained dual Grade I winner Cave Rock (Arrogate) at 2-5 when the gates sprung open. And just as it looked as though the win–as well as divisional honors–were slipping away as his chief rival led the field into the stretch, Forte found another gear and dug in, running down the favorite in deep stretch in a thrilling 1 1/2-length victory.

Forte turned in his first work as a 3-year-old, going an easy three furlongs at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 21. He is expected to make his 2023 bow in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Mar. 4 and then use GI Florida Derby Apr. 1 or GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 8 as his final prep for the May 6 GI Kentucky Derby.

Early Impressions…
“I thought he was a gorgeous foal. I was really happy with him. I had had weanlings by Violence that I had pinhooked–I bought weanlings and sold yearlings–and I liked them, but they didn't really resemble the sire at all. So I was pleased to get a foal in Forte that looks a lot like Violence. He's a good blend of his sire and his dam.”
-Amy Moore, South Gate Farm Owner and Founder

–-Margaret Ransom

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10

It's early in the season, but not too early to get excited about the group eyeing the GI Kentucky Oaks. In Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) you have a standout 2-year-old and a deserving Eclipse champion. Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) has so impressed trainer Tom Amoss that he said the GI Kentucky Derby is under consideration. Justique (Justify) has been ultra-impressive at times. They're the Top 3, but numbers four through 10 make up a group filled with potential.

At least two prominent members of the division will not make it to the Oaks. Trainer Todd Pletcher reports that GI Frizette S. winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) is behind schedule and will need some more time before returning to the races. Raging Sea (Curlin), who finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, has yet return to training and is not currently on target for the Oaks, reports trainer Chad Brown.

1) WONDER WHEEL (f, Into Mischief–Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful) O-D. J. Stable LLC. B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farm (Ky). T-Mark Casse. Sales history: $275,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 5-4-1-0, $1,550,725. Last Start: Won GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

Even though she won the GI Alcibiades S., Wonder Wheel was a bit overlooked when sent off at 6-1 in the Juvenile Fillies. Winning by three lengths that day, she proved she was the best of her division and a worthy 2-year-old filly champion. Everyone is jumping on the Hoosier Philly bandwagon, and with good reason, but based on what she accomplished at two, Wonder Wheel deserves to be considered, at least at this point, the No. 1 contender for the Oaks. This is a good horse with no apparent flaws. She has been training at Mark Casse's facility in Ocala and has, through Tuesday, had works of three furlongs and four furlongs. DJ Stable General Manager Jon Green reports that the filly will have one more work before it is decided where she will make her 3-year-old debut, but said the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa is the most likely spot. That could set her up for a run in the GI Ashland S.

2) HOOSIER PHILLY (f, Into Mischief–Tapella, by Tapit) O-Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC. B-Candy Meadows, LLC (Ky). T-Thomas Amoss. Sales history: $510,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $432,610. Last Start: Won GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 18

Trainer Tom Amoss believes that Hoosier Philly is a once-in-a-lifetime horse. “If she stays healthy, she is going to wow the world,” he said. Amoss, who won the 2019 Kentucky Oaks with Serengeti Empress (Alternation), has also called her the best horse he has ever trained. He's even contemplating running her in the Kentucky Derby. That the trainer has talked in such glowing terms about the filly has definitely made her stock rise and has led to many rating her as the best of her group. It's easy to see what Amoss likes about Hoosier Philly. She's 3-for-3 and absolutely demolished the competition in the Rags to Riches S. and the GII Golden Rod S., both at Churchill Downs. So far as her road to the Oaks goes, here's what Amoss had to say: “She is back at the track and training daily. We are tentatively pointing towards the Rachel Alexandra, but we are not married to that spot.” A very exciting filly.

3) JUSTIQUE (f, Justify–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star' O-C R K Stable, LLC. B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (Ky). T-John A Shirreffs. Sales history: $725,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 3-2-0-1, $132,000. Last Start: Won Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar Nov. 19. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Jan. 28

Justique | Benoit

She has to prove a lot, lot, lot more before she can be compared to Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), but she definitely has a few things in common with the 2010 Horse of the Year, starting with the fact that both come from the John Shirreffs barn. Then there's her running style. She sits far back early and then closes with an eye-catching and explosive late kick, just like the great Zenyatta. She was scratched from the GIII Santa Ynez S. earlier this month with a temperature, but looks ready for this Saturday's GIII Las Virgenes S. Her three-race career has not exactly been perfect. Though everything about her suggests she will thrive around two turns, her worst race came in the GII Chandelier S. The only time she went a distance, she was a non-threatening third in the mile-and-a-sixteenth race and got a Beyer figure of just 66. That race is likely an outlier, but it also means she has some questions to answer.

4) ICE DANCING (f, Frosted–Welcome Dance, by Henny Hughes) O-Perry R Bass, II & Ramona Bass. B-Bass Stables, LLC (Ky). T-Richard Mandella. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-0-2, $219,600. Last Start: Won GIII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Jan. 8. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12. Next Start: To Be Determined

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella showed early on how much confidence he had in this filly, running her as a maiden in the GI Del Mar Debutante and the Chandelier S. She was third in the Del Mar race and fourth in the Chandelier. After that race, Mandella went back to square one and found a maiden race for her. Since then, everything has gone right. She broke her maiden on Nov. 25 and then romped in the GIII Santa Ynez S. on Jan. 8. Mandella is never one to rush a horse and it's a safe bet that we have yet to see this filly's best. She will not run Saturday in the Las Virgenes S. “We're not going to run her this weekend,” Mandella said. It's too quick back. I don't have a plan yet. There is the Santa Ysabel Stakes here, but I might look around.” Could emerge as the clear leader of the Southern California division.

5) LEAVE NO TRACE (f, Outwork–Tanquerray, by Good Journey) O-WellSpring Stables. B-Red Cloak Farm, LLC (Ky). T-Philip Serpe. Sales history: $8,000 yrl '21 FTFFEB; $40,000 yrl '21 FTMOCT. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-1-1, $598,650. Last Start: 2nd in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4

A $40,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale, she's been an overachiever ever since bought that day by owner Dr. Robert Vukovich. Trainer Phil Serpe doesn't get many opportunities with Grade I level horses, but he's pushed all the right buttons with this filly, winning the GI Spinaway S. before finishing third in the Frizette and second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Wonder Wheel beat her by three lengths in the Juvenile Fillies, so she may need to improve this year, but there's no reason why that can't happen. Blue-collar or not, she shows up every time. She has breezed twice after being given a break over the winter, the most recent work a four-furlong move in 49.31 at Gulfstream.

6) JULIA SHINING (f, Curlin–Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Stonestreet Stables LLC. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $194,075. Last Start: Won the GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct Dec. 3. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

Julia Shining | Sarah Andrew

Give Todd Pletcher a filly by Curlin and good things happen. Pletcher finished second in last year's Oaks with Nest (Curlin) and won the 2021 Oaks with Malathaat (Curlin); the latter won an Eclipse Award. The latest to come around is Julia Shining, a full sister to Malathaat. She turned a lot of heads when winning her debut at Keeneland. She was climbing early in the race, but exploded once she leveled off. Next out, she won the GII Demoiselle, the same race won by Nest and Malathaat. There's a lot to like, but she needs to prove more before ascending on this list. As the 1-2 favorite, she won the Demoiselle by just a neck and had to work hard to do so and her best Beyer figure is a 71, which she produced in her debut. Looks like she'll face Wonder Wheel in the Suncoast, a $150,000 ungraded race that has attracted two of the best fillies in the division.

7) FAIZA (f, Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael L Petersen. B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $90,000 yrl '21 KEESEP; $725,000 2yo '22 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GISW, 2-2-0-0, $222,000. Last Start: Won the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Jan. 28

Considering how high the bar is set, Bob Baffert is relatively light when it comes to 3-year-old fillies. For now, it looks like Faiza is his best hope. A $725,000 purchase from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-

Year-Olds in Training Sale, she looked every bit worthy of that price tag when breaking her maiden by 3 1/2 lengths at Del Mar in November. Baffert wheeled her back in the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos and got a win, but she had to work awfully hard to get the job done. She won a stretch battle with the 12-1 shot Pride of the Nile (Pioneer ofthe Nile). It's dangerous to underestimate any horse in the Baffert stable, but this is another one who needs to show more before being considered among the top threats for the Oaks.

8) THE ALYS LOOK (f, Connect–Foul Play, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Ike and Dawn Thrash. B-G. Watts Humphrey (Ky). T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $60,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-2-1-1, $150,528. Last Start: Won the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 21. Kentucky Oaks Points: 24. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 25

While Brad Cox doesn't have nearly the depth in this division that he does with his 3-year-old colts, he's got some interesting prospects, among them The Alys Look. Just a $60,000 yearling purchase, the filly kicked off her 3-year-old campaign last Saturday with a one-length win over stablemate Chop Chop (City of Light) in the Silverbulletday S. presented by Fasig-Tipton. It wasn't the best field, but she looked good in the victory and might be on the improve. She has been a much different horses since Cox took the blinkers off after her second career start, where she was beaten 15 3/4 lengths in a maiden at Churchill.

9) OCCULT (f, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker) O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC. B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ky). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $625,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $107,450. Last Start: Won the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Jan. 14. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: To Be Determined

Occult won in her stakes debut when capturing the Jan.14 Busanda S. at Aqueduct. But if she is that good, why isn't she with Chad Brown's first string in Florida? The answer is that Brown has no problem developing good horses in New York during the winter months. His Kentucky Oaks runner-up Search Results (Flatter), as well as his two winners of the GI Preakness S., Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) and Early Voting (Gun Runner), all used the Big A road to the Oaks and Derby. A $625,000 yearling buy by Into Mischief whose in the hands of Chad Brown and is now a stakes winner, Occult checks a lot of boxes. Brown said he's not sure where Occult will run next and that he will look for a race in early March for her.

10) CHOP CHOP (f, City of Light–Grand Sophia, by Giant's Causeway) Selective, LLC. B-Cobra Farm & MRJ Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ky). T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $230,000 yrl '21 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-2-0-0, $455,450. Last Start: 2nd in the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Jan. 14. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 18

Was simply second best behind stablemate The Alys Look in the Silverbulletday S. presented by Fasig-Tipton as the 4-5 favorite. So her 3-year-old campaign did not get off to the best of starts. But she still ran well enough for her to be considered at least a mid-level threat for the Kentucky Oaks. This remains the filly that lost to divisional leader Wonder Wheel by just a nose in the GI Alcibiades S. and went off as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she finished 13th.

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Ontario Racing’s Horse Ownership 101 Sessions Work Their Magic

Edited Press Release

Purchasing two in-foal broodmares at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale doubled the size of Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds' broodmare band. The mares Tiptoe and Turning Point were the latest step in Colin Davis's methodical entrance into the racing game.

Davis, a resident of Cobourg, Ont., is new to racehorse breeding and ownership, but familiar with the equine stars of the sport. Growing up, he attended races at Kawartha Downs and in the last decade has owned multiple off-track Thoroughbreds.

As Davis went looking for more information on the racing industry, he found Ontario Racing's Horse Ownership 101 Sessions. An initial meeting with Elissa Blowe provided clarity on what style of ownership matched his vision. Blowe connected Davis to leading bloodstock agent Marette Farrell, and he headed to the Bluegrass State for the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Davis spent four days, “pounding the pavement” with Farrell and left Kentucky with two mares purchased through Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program (MPP), a component of the Thoroughbred Improvement Program. When purchasing in-foal mares at recognized public auctions outside of the province, Ontario residents can apply for an incentive totaling half the purchase price, to a maximum of $25,000 per mare and $75,000 annually per person or partnership. The two mares Davis purchased in 2022 were also supported by the MPP.

“(The MPP) has been instrumental,” said Davis. “The first year I would have started with one mare, and then went to two. Each year you try and get an economy of scale, but it just sets you back because it's the same leg work, and the same expenses but no efficiencies.”

The program allowed Davis to target quality by stepping up to the price point where he and Farrell could purchase mares by proven broodmare sires. Tiptoe is by Tiz Wonderful the broodmare sire of 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Wonder Wheel and Turning Point is by Hard Spun. In 2021, he brought home Johansson by Pioneer of the Nile and Renata by Medaglia d'Oro.

In addition to his burgeoning band of broodmares, Davis has dipped his toes into racehorse ownership. He connected with Sovereign Award-winning trainer Catherine Day Phillips and is a partner in three horses. One of them, an Ontario Bred filly named Millie Girl, made her racing debut July 16, and won at Woodbine. The Davis family, Colin, his wife, and their two daughters Josephine and Felicity, made their way to the winner's circle.

“It's a different world, with a lot to learn once you get into it,” said Davis. “But if you can bridge that gap, it will help people get in the door, because once you're through that door, it is a lot of fun.”

For more information on Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program click here. To learn how you can become a Thoroughbred breeder, click here.

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Big Season Pushes Gaffalione toward 2000th Win

To the casual observer, it might appear that success has come fast and early to Tyler Gaffalione, who has yet to see the dawn of his 30th birthday. As of Dec. 7, Gaffalione has registered 1,997 wins with career earnings of just over $113 million. That's pretty heady stuff, especially for a 28-year-old. However, don't let that fool you because the young horseman has already packed a tsunami of sweat and tears–not to mention good old fashioned hard work–into a life still very much in progress.

I've had great people surrounding me,” he said. “I've had a lot of support throughout my life and I'm just so thankful because they helped get me to where I am today.”

Success appears to have always been in the cards for Gaffalione. Blessed with a rider's pedigree courtesy of his father and grandfather–former jockeys Steve and Bobby Gaffalione–he demonstrated his riding prowess early.

“My father, my grandfather and my cousin are all jockeys,” he explained. “So, I pretty much grew up in racing and spent a lot of time around the racetrack. I used to go to Calder frequently. I fell in love with horses at a very young age.

He continued, “We moved to Ocala when I was about eight or nine and spent quite a few years there. My dad trained some horses and he was also galloping there, so I started to go to work with him. When I was 10, he started letting me pony with him. I started galloping after that and when I was 11, I'd gallop in the morning before school and in the summers.”

Having grown up in Davie, Florida, the Kansas City native made his mark early in his career in the Sunshine State, collecting his first career win at Gulfstream Park in September of 2014. While still toting his bug status, he won a pair of stakes at the Hallandale oval in 2015, also enjoying a banner day that spring when winning five races on a single Gulfstream card. He rounded out the 2015 racing season by earning an Eclipse Award as the champion apprentice jockey.

Quickly becoming a fan favorite on the Southern Florida circuit, he tied jockey Jerry Bailey's 19-year-old record by winning seven races in a single card at Gulfstream in 2017 and quite notably, amassed over 200 wins in his first three full seasons in the saddle. Coincidentally, it was the Hall of Famer who Gaffalione had tied with at Gulfstream that had proven so important in giving him the blueprint to his own bourgeoning career.

“I watched Jerry Bailey and Garrett Gomez a lot growing up,” he said when asked who influenced his riding style the most. “Even now, I'll call Jerry and get some tips that I can apply to my riding.”

Riding high after rounding out 2018 with his 1000th career victory at Gulfstream that December, he returned the next year to collect his first Classic victory with War Of Will (War Front), trained by one of Gaffalione's biggest supporters, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

While those sparkling credentials could surely stand on their own, the horseman enjoyed a season for the ages in 2022. Knocking on the door of a win during the World Championships with seven prior top three finishes, he finally broke through in 2022, annexing the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with D.J. Stable's Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) on the Friday card.

“It couldn't have happened on a better filly or for better connections,” he said. “Especially that my first [Breeders' Cup] win came with Mark Casse. He gave me my first Grade I win [on Salty in the 2018 GI La Troienne S.] and my first Triple Crown win and now my first Breeders' Cup win. He gives you all the confidence.”

Wonder Wheel, winner of Churchill's Debutante S. in July, finished second in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. but bounced back to take the GI Darley Alcibiades S. before her Breeders' Cup score. Gaffalione has been aboard all five of the dark bay's starts.

“She just didn't really break running,” he said of the championship-defining race. “Normally, she shows a lot of gate speed, but that day she was just a little flat. It took a little bit for her to get underneath herself. We wound up being farther back than I anticipated.”

He continued, “Going into the first turn, we got pushed back and we got over to the fence. She wanted to do some running, but she came back to me nicely. Spots just kept opening up when we needed it and she took every single one of them. If you look at the overhead view, you could see at about the three-eighths pole and I was still kind of checking on her, but she wanted to run. As soon as the spots opened, she didn't hesitate. She was just full of heart.”

Not short in praise that has been lavished upon what can only be described as a perfectly executed and well-timed ride, Gaffalione remains steadfast in his modesty.

“She is a tremendous filly,” he said. “I think anybody could have ridden her that day because she gives you all the confidence. I love her.”

On Breeders' Cup Saturday, Gaffalione returned to add a second victory to this year's haul with a score by longshot Caravel (Mizzen Mast) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“It was such a blessing,” he explained. “My agent [Matt Muzikar] and I have put in such a huge amount of work to get to that point. It's something that I have wanted to accomplish for a while. It's definitely been a fun experience. I've been enjoying myself.”

In 2021, Gaffalione's mounts amassed over $19.2 million, which seems impressive enough. That is until you look at this season, which has yet to be completed, where his tally weighs in at a healthy $26.6 million. Could a second Eclipse Award be not too far in the offing?

“That would be a dream come true,” he admitted. “I always wanted to win an Eclipse Award. We were fortunate enough to win one as an apprentice, but [to win one] as a Journeyman would be a whole other story.”

He concluded, “Coming into this season, [Muzikar] and I just wanted to ride in the most races we can and get on as many as we can on each day. The way I see it, it betters your chances of winning and it doesn't hurt to have the experience. I have a long way to go [in my career], but I am happy with what we've accomplished up until now.”

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