Bodexpress Shatters Gulfstream Park West Track Record

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Top Racing LLC and Global Thoroughbreds LLC’s Bodexpress, who made his name by running in the Triple Crown as a maiden, continued to build a reputation as a serious racehorse Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West, breaking an 18-year-old track record while romping to a 6 ¾ -length victory in a mile allowance race.

The Gustavo Delgado-trained 3-year-old colt won his second straight race at Gulfstream Park West after losing his first seven races with a 1:35.58 clocking, eclipsing the old track record of 1:36.25 held by High Ideal.

“This is a good horse. This is a good horse. Never in my life have I had a horse set a track record,” said Delgado, who was Venezuela’s all-time winningest trainer before venturing to South Florida 10 years ago. “The way he has come back has been perfect.”

Bodexpress, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, broke alertly to outrush Todd Pletcher-trained Moretti heading into the first turn and established an uncontested lead on the first turn and along the backstretch, posting fractions of 24.09 and 47.64 for the first half-mile of the Race 7 feature. Moretti, the 7-2 second choice ridden by Joe Bravo, made a brief outside move on the far turn before backing up, leaving Bodexpress with a commanding four-length lead on the turn into the homestretch. After being set down for the drive, the son of Bodemeister drew off while extending his lead to the wire.

“The way he was training the past 10 days, he looked like he had a good race coming,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., who is the assistant trainer for his father’s stable. “He’s more mature now. We want to make him a winning horse. We’ll take it step by step up the ladder.”

Gump, who stumbled at the start, saved ground under Jairo Rendon to finish second, 10 lengths ahead of Postino’s Vow and jockey Paco Lopez. Moretti, a $900,000 yearling purchase who was making his first start since Feb. 2, finished fifth.

Delgado mentioned the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 14 as a possible target for Bodexpress’ next start.

Bodexpress had earned a Grade 1 placing at Gulfstream Park March 30 when he finished second in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) behind Maximum Security, who went on to finish first in the Kentucky Derby (G1), only to be controversially disqualified. He finished 3 ¼ lengths clear of third-place finisher Code of Honor, who went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby before being elevated to second due to the disqualification. Maximum Security went on to win the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth, while Code of Honor went on to win the Dwyer (G2), Travers (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

His strong performance in the Florida Derby earned Bodexpress a berth in the Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 14^th of 19 after being taken up in traffic on the turn into the homestretch. The “bad boy” unseated jockey John Velazquez at the start of the Preakness (G1) before going to the sidelines. 

Bodexpress returned to action at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 14, breaking his maiden with an impressive three-length victory.