Just over a week after the biggest victory of his career, Grade 1 winner Bodexpress has been retired from racing due to an injury.
Trainer Gustavo Delgado made the announcement Sunday night on his Twitter account. In the announcement, he also noted that Bodexpress is currently in Ocala, Fla., while stud plans are being finalized.
The retirement of the 4-year-old Bodemeister colt brings to a close one of the more unusual careers in recent memory.
Bodexpress caught the public's eye when he entered last year's Triple Crown races as a maiden; winless in his first five starts in South Florida. However, he earned his place in the national conversation following a surprising runner-up finish behind Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
The colt was one of the horses impeded by Maximum Security's erratic trip in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 13th. Then, he gained cult hero status in the Preakness Stakes after tossing rider John Velazquez at the gate and going around the track in the race riderless, with additional antics after the field had crossed the wire.
After taking the summer off, Bodexpress returned in October of his 3-year-old season to break his maiden in a Gulfstream Park West maiden special weight. He followed up that effort with a 6 3/4-length score in a Gulfstream Park allowance race.
Those two wins returned Bodexpress to stakes competition, where he finished third in the G3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes, and fifth in this year's G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
Bodexpress remained winless in 2020 heading into October, but a class drop into the allowance optional claiming ranks at Gulfstream Park West yielded a 11 1/4-length confidence boost. Ten days ago, he finished his on-track career with an 11-1 upset victory by a length in the G1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs.
In total, Bodexpress finished his racing career with four wins in 17 starts for earnings of $694,600.
Bred in Kentucky by Martha Jane Mulholland, Bodexpress is out of the unraced City Zip mare Pied a Terre. The dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Stormy Lord.
With great regret, we announce the retirement of Bodexpress. He suffered a career ending injury while winning the G1 Clark Handicap. A very talented colt, who finally showed his potential at CD. Thank you Bode for the journey & memories. To his fans, Thank you for your support!!! pic.twitter.com/SreWXTUOcB
— Gustavo Delgado S (@GDS_Racing) December 7, 2020
Bode, is currently at the farm in Ocala, while we finalize stallion plans. We look forward to watching your babies run in the future. #bodexpress pic.twitter.com/QgmiVxPCSj
— Gustavo Delgado S (@GDS_Racing) December 7, 2020
The post Grade 1 Winner Bodexpress Retired; Stud Plans Pending appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
