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Racing

Gaffalione, Ward, Godolphin In Front with Three Days Remaining In Keeneland Spring Meet

With three days to go in Keeneland’s Spring Meet, here is a look at the races for leading jockey, trainer and owner:

Among jockeys, Tyler Gaffalione has 17 victories, three more than Luis Saez in second. Gaffalione, who is bidding for his second consecutive title as the Spring Meet’s leading jockey, is named on horses in six races Wednesday, seven races on Thursday and seven races on Friday.

Gaffalione won four races on April 21 and three races on April 12. He took the Shakertown (G2) on Caravel and the Palisades (L) on Gaslight Dancer.

Saez, the leading jockey of the 2021 Spring Meet, is named on horses in five races on Wednesday, nine races on Thursday and six races on Friday. He rode three winners on April 15, including the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) on First Mission. Saez also won the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on Tapit Trice and the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) aboard Mo Stash.

In third with 12 victories is Irad Ortiz Jr., who won the Madison (G1) on Goodnight Olive, the Jenny Wiley (G1) aboard In Italian (GB) and the Giant’s Causeway (L) on Twilight Gleaming (IRE). Ortiz has mounts in five races today, eight races on Thursday and seven races on Friday.

Wesley Ward, who is seeking his sixth consecutive title as the Spring Meet’s leading trainer, has horses entered in a total of 12 races today through Friday: five on Wednesday, two on Thursday and five on Friday.

Ward, who won three races April 20, captured the FanDuel Limestone (L) with Love Reigns (IRE) and the aforementioned Giant’s Causeway.

Second with nine wins is Brad Cox, who has horses entered in two races today and one race apiece on Thursday and Friday. Cox, who shared the 2018 Spring Meet title with Ward, has equaled the Keeneland record for stakes wins by a trainer during a season with four. He won the Beaumont (G1) Presented by Keeneland Select with Key of Life, the aforementioned Shakertown with Caravel and Stonestreet Lexington with First Mission along with the Lafayette with Corona Bolt.

Brendan Walsh, who sent out three winners on April 21 and won the Elkhorn (G2) with Verstappen, is the third-leading trainer with seven wins. Walsh has horses entered in three races both today and Thursday. He has horses entered in five races on Friday.  

As of the start of racing Wednesday, the leading owner with five wins is Godolphin. Triumphs include the aforementioned Stonestreet Lexington and the Baird Doubledogdare (G3) with Frost Point. Godolphin has three entrants remaining, two on Thursday and one on Friday.

Second with four wins is Stonestreet Stables, who has one entrant on each of the three remaining days of the meet. Stonestreet’s stakes wins are the aforementioned FanDuel Limestone, Giant’s Causeway and Lafayette.

Ward has owned three winners to rank third. He owns entrants in two races today.