Gaffalione aboard Search Results. (Coady Photography)
Lanerie Needs Two Wins For 5,000-Career Victories
Darren Roges/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nine-time Churchill Downs leading rider Tyler Gaffalione was off to a hot start at the September Meet where he’s already recorded 12 winners through just six days of racing.
Gaffalione, who was the leading jockey at the last three September Meets, needs just two wins to equal his own September Meet record of 14 victories that he set in 2020 and equaled during last year’s stand.
“It’s always exciting to come back home,” Gaffalione said. “Churchill is now our home track. We love being here.”
The Jockeys’ Guild announced Wednesday that Gaffalione was named their Jockey of the Week after recording 11 wins for the week of Sept. 11-17. Most notably, Gaffalione piloted two stakes winners Saturday at Churchill Downs: Search Results in the $400,000 Locust Grove (GIII) and Bango in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes.
Gaffalione was named on 24 horses over the next five days of racing at Churchill Downs. The 29-year-old rider will be absent Saturday when he flies to Parx to ride their Pennsylvania Derby Day program, including Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous in the $1 million Cotillion (GI) and Magic Tap in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (GI).
Milestone Watch
Lanerie Needs Two Wins For 5,000-Career Victories
Veteran rider Corey Lanerie was named on 16 horses Friday-Sunday at Churchill Downs and needs just two victories to become the 38th jockey in North America to win 5,000 races.
Here are the races Lanerie had entries:
Friday: Race 2 (Classy Socks); Race 4 (Midcat); Race 8 (Track Mate); Race 9 (Pat’schromecompass); Race 10 (Happy Charger)
Saturday: Race 6 (War Campaign); Race 7 (Denington); Race 9 (Fun and Feisty); Race 11 (Forever After All)
Sunday: Race 1 (Forever Cool); Race 2 (Time to Meddle); Race 3 (Ready for Change); Race 4 (Azteca Star); Race 6 (Uno Mas Bourbon); Race 8 (Cobalamin); Race 9 (Ten Days Later)
Down The Stretch
Racing resumed Friday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 12:45 p.m. for “Senior Day.” Guests 60 and up received $3 general admission and a discount on Millionaires Row dining. There was a $83,970 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 that began in Race 5. …
Happy Birthday wishes are extended to Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttlemanand trainer Norm Casse. …
Jockeys Tyler Gaffalione, Florent Geroux and Brian Hernandez Jr. were scheduled to fly to the “City of Brotherly Love” Saturday for Parx’s Pennsylvania Derby Day program. On Sunday, jockeys Rafael Bejarano and Cristian Torres were scheduled to ride at Remington Park for their 10-race card that features the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (GIII). …
“Inside Churchill Downs” will return Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7 The one-hour program will preview Saturday’s Downs After Dark card. Fans outside the Louisville area can listen live on www.espnlouisville.com. …
For more information about Churchill Downs and the September Meet, visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.
