Jockey Tyler Gaffalione returned from a four-month injury layoff to win aboard five of his first seven mounts at Ellis Park, including sweeping the $150,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes July 20 aboard Banishing and the $150,000 Twin Bridges Stakes July 21 on Asternia.
Gaffalione finished fourth in his only mount on the weather-shortened card July 19 before going 2-for-2 Sunday and 3-for-4 Monday. The five wins already tie him for fourth in the Ellis Park jockey standings, while his $341,758 accrued put him sixth in career earnings. Jaime Torres leads both categories with 10 wins and $566,092 in purses.
Gaffalione's return comes after his recovery from a broken left ankle that he sustained in a March 26 post-parade incident at Gulfstream Park. The 30-year-old had initially targeted a return in early July but took off those mounts feeling he needed a bit more time to be ready.
One of the country's leading riders, Gaffalione will be based this summer at Ellis in Henderson, Ky., with plans to make out-of-town trips to ride at Saratoga Race Course.
While he was recovering from the injury, Gaffalione and his wife, Casi, welcomed the birth of their first child, Tatum, this spring.
Gaffalione will be host Louie Rabaut's featured guest on Friday's Kentucky Racing Spotlight, 6-7 p.m. ET on ESPN 680/105.7, at www.espnlouisville.com and on the ESPN 680 app.
