Tyler Gaffalione Notches 1,000th Win

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione notched the 1,000th winner of his career in the eighth race Dec. 30 at Gulfstream Park, where he scored aboard Run Like Elle's first-time starter Mission From Elle in a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf.

"It's such a blessing, especially to have it here. I grew up here. This is home track," the Davie, Fla., native said. "I just want to thank all the owners, trainers, horses—and, of course, my agent—for getting me here."

The 24-year-old rode his first winner at Gulfstream in the third race of his career (Holdin Bullets) Sept. 7, 2014 and has gone on to win several riding titles at the Hallandale Beach track. After the Gulfstream summer meet title this year, he rode full-time in Kentucky for the first time and went on to win the fall riding titles at both Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

Gaffalione scored Win No. 999 in Sunday's third race aboard Miss Marcela before he delivered a textbook ride aboard the Brendan Walsh-trained Mission From Elle, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Noble Mission . Away alertly from post 10, Mission From Elle was positioned directly behind pacesetter Payntdembluesaway and saved ground in the backstretch and around the turn. Gaffalione found room inside the tiring pacesetter in the stretch, and his mount responded willingly to his urging to draw clear to the finish line.

Gaffalione rode 217 winners in 2015 to earn the Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding apprentice jockey. He rode four winners on his first day as a journeyman at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 11, 2015, went on to ride 208 winners in his first year as a journeyman in 2016, and 295 winners in 2017, including a record-tying seven winners July 4, 2017 at Gulfstream. His 1,000th win was his 253rd score of 2018.