Tyler Gaffalione and Paco Lopez recorded spectacular victories and milestones throughout Keeneland’s Fall Stars opening weekend. Gaffalione with two Grade I wins to earn berths within the Breeders’ Cup and Lopez reaching profession win 4,000 in model with a stakes race victory. The panel of racing consultants rewarded each with Jockey of the Week honors for Sept. 30-Oct. 6.
The weekly honor acknowledges jockeys for vital driving accomplishments and who’re members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the group which represents greater than 1050 lively, retired and completely disabled jockeys in the US.
On Saturday, coach Brendan Walsh gave a leg as much as Gaffalione on East Avenue within the day’s ninth race, the Gr. I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Off because the 5-2 second alternative and breaking from publish place 5 within the discipline of 11, East Avenue cleared the sector heading into the primary flip and by no means appeared again rolling to a 5-1/4 size win in 1:43.17 over race favourite Ferocious who checked in second.
“I had loads of horse left,” stated Gaffalione to Keeneland’s publicity crew. “He is fairly particular. I am actually enthusiastic about him.”
Driving for four-time Eclipse Award coach Chad Brown, Gaffalione was within the irons aboard Carl Spackler (IRE) within the Gr. I Coolmore Turf Mile. Off as the favourite within the nine-horse discipline, Carl Spackler went straight to the entrance after breaking outdoors and made each pole a profitable one for a one-length victory in 1:34.23.
“I did not need to take an excessive amount of away from my horse, so I simply put my fingers down and let him get comfy,” stated Gaffalione. “He proved he was finest as we speak. He is an incredible athlete.”
Paco Lopez notched his 3,999th profession win at Gulfstream Park on Friday. Lopez then travelled to Keeneland and received Sunday’s eighth race, the Indian Summer season Stakes for coach George Weaver aboard two-year-old Governor Sam for his 4,000th profession win milestone.
Reflecting on the milestone, Lopez remarked, “While you work laborious, then coming to America and having the chance to experience right here, I really feel nice to have that chance daily. Now I’ll attempt for five,000.”
Lopez, 38, received the 2008 Eclipse Award as Excellent Apprentice and is the 84th rider to realize 4,000 wins. He received his eleventh main rider title on the lately concluded Monmouth Park meet and at present is second in wins for 2024 behind five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr.
No stranger to travelling, Lopez this week rides at Parx, Delaware Park, Gulfstream and Keeneland.
Different contenders for Jockey of the Week had been Manny Franco with a Gr. I win at Keeneland and a Gr. III win at Belmont on the Large A, Martin Garcia with a Gr. I win at Santa Anita and Jose L. Ortiz with Gr. I and Gr. II wins at Keeneland.
This press launch has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the group that produced the discharge.
