bodexpress | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fan-Favorite Bodexpress Under Consideration For Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Following a triumphant, near track-record setting victory at Gulfstream Park West this weekend, fan-favorite Thoroughbred Bodexpress could be targeting the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Trainer Gustavo Delgado told the Daily Racing Form that the 4-year-old exited his allowance win in good order, and that either the Dirt Mile or the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27 may be his next targets.

“The main thing about the Dirt Mile is that it's around two turns at Keeneland, which suits him perfectly,” said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr.. “The subject of going to the Breeders' Cup just came up this morning, so we'll need a few days to assess everything before making a final decision. One concern is whether he'd be able to get into the field if the race were to overfill, which looks very possible. If not, the Clark would likely be the choice, since he's already shown he runs well at Churchill Downs.”

Bodexpress gained notoriety when he dropped jockey John Velazquez at the start of the 2019 Preakness Stakes and took a solo tour around the Pimlico oval. Overall, the Bodemeister colt has three wins, four seconds and three thirds in his 16 lifetime starts, earning $412,500.

Bodexpress Romps At GP West; Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $275,000 Guarantee

If Bodexpress had never left the confines of Gulfstream Park West, might Thoroughbred racing's most popular bad boy be undefeated?

The ultra-talented but often-erratic 4-year-old colt turned in a thoroughly professional performance Saturday, scoring his third win in as many starts at Gulfstream Park West in Miami Gardens, Fla., while missing the track record for 1 1/16 miles by .01 seconds. The son of Bodemeister registered a front-running 11 1/4 -length victory in 1:42.53, just off Mr. Jordan's Nov. 12, 2016, track record of 1:42.52, in the featured Race 9, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up.

Owned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC, Top Racing LLC and trainer Gustavo Delgado's GDS Racing Stable, Bodexpress is stabled at Gulfstream Park West when he's not traveling to stakes engagements. He broke his maiden in his eighth career start Oct. 14, 2019, and came right back to capture an allowance five weeks later, setting a track record for a mile. He would likely have set a track record for 1 1/16 miles had Emisael Jaramillo put any pressure at all on the Kentucky-bred colt.

'We kind of expected a race like that, actually, because he was training so good,” said Delgado's son and assistant trainer, Gustavo Delgado Jr.

Bodexpress, the 2-5 favorite, went right to the front and set fractions of 24.56 and 48.02 seconds for the first half-mile before completing six furlongs in 1:11.75 and finishing with plenty of energy.

“He's been behaving himself lately. I say, 'Lately,'' Delgado Jr. said. “You can see the change. He's more mature. I'm not even worried about it. Today, I said, 'Do your thing, I don't even care.' He behaved like a pro.”

Bodexpress has provided some anxious moments for his connections while away from Gulfstream Park West while also showing flashes of unfulfilled potential with a few graded-stakes placings. Bodexpress finished second as a maiden behind Maximum Security in the 2019 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream to earn a start in the Kentucky Derby (G1), in which he finished 14^th after a rough journey. In the Preakness Stakes (G1), he unseated jockey John Velazquez when he reared in the starting gate and led the outrider on a merry chase during the race.

“We'll keep him happy and healthy. He'll win one of the big ones,” Gustavo Jr. said.

Bodexpress will be pointed to stakes during Gulfstream's 2020-2021 Championship Meet, including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 23. Another trip to Churchill Downs before then for the Clark (G1) Nov. 27 is a possibility.

”We have a lot of options. We won't dismiss the race at Churchill, because we know he likes Churchill,” Delgado Jr. said.

Identifier, who upset Bodemeister at 60-1 in the Hal's Hope, finished second while never a factor. Glory of Florida finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $275,000 on Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park West.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $275,000
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 11th straight racing day of the Fall Turf Festival Meet Saturday, when multiple tickets were each worth $2,667.48.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $5,230.90.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a mile optional claiming allowance for 2-year-olds scheduled for the turf in Race 7. Michael Maker-trained Fulmini is rated as the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The son of Overdriven most recently finished second in the off-the-turf Armed Forces at Gulfstream, where he broke his maiden in his second lifetime start at five furlongs on turf and finished finishing a troubled fourth in the Proud Man Stakes at a mile on turf. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

In Race 6, Royal Squeeze, a multiple-stakes winner with more than $600,000 earnings, drops back into claiming company for the six-furlong sprint for $40,000 claimers. The Elizabeth Dobles-trained 9-year-old gelding, who captured the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit at the start of the 2019-2020 Championship Meet at Gulfstream, has been racing competitively in stakes and optional claiming in recent years.

Earlier on the program, Miss Auramet is rated as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for her return to South Florida in Race 3, an optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares scheduled for five-furlongs on turf. Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr. for wife, Laurie, Leon Ellman and David Melin, the 4-year-old daughter of uncaptured has had a very productive summer in the Mid-Atlantic under the care of trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. Miss Auramet is coming off back-to-back allowance wins at Laurel Park and Delaware Park. Prior to her summer adventure up north, Plesa saddled Miss Auramet for three victories in a row at Gulfstream two on turf and the other on the main track. Zayas has the call.

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Gulfstream West: Bodexpress Poses A ‘Single’ Question To Rainbow 6 Bettors On Saturday

A quick glance at the past performance lines for Saturday's Race 9 feature at Gulfstream Park West is all that is needed to figure out that Bodexpress will be a rather imposing horse to beat.

Bodexpress is rated as the 4-5 morning-line favorite against five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance for good reason, having placed in multiple graded stakes, including the 2019 Florida Derby (G1), in which he finished second to Maximum Security, at Gulfstream Park.

So, naturally, the Gustavo Delgado-trained 4-year-old colt is a no-brainer Rainbow 6 'single,' right? …Right?? …Right???

OK, so maybe Bodexpress hasn't always been the most reliable betting proposition during his career; OK, so maybe he became a fan favorite as much through his sometimes erratic bad-boy behavior as his abundant talent; OK, so maybe the son of Bodemeister did rear up and unseat Hall of Famer John Velazquez leaving the starting gate in last year's Preakness Stakes (G1) and led the outrider on a merry chase around the Pimlico racetrack during the race.

But … if bettors take a stand that Bodexpress will behave himself Saturday, a 'single' in Race 9 will offer them better opportunities to 'spread' in the other five legs in the Rainbow 6, which will offer a jackpot pool guarantee of $250,000 after going unsolved for the first 10 days of the Fall Turf Festival Meet. After all, Bodexpress has made himself right at home at Gulfstream Park West, where he is based when he isn't on the road for stakes engagements.

The Kentucky-bred colt is undefeated in two starts at Gulfstream Park West. He broke his maiden in his eighth career race last October in his comeback race from his Preakness disaster. He came right back to break the track record for a mile while scoring by 6 ¾ lengths a month later, registering a career-best speed figure that towers over the best numbers put up by his Saturday foes.

Can't bring yourself to 'single' him? How about taking a stab with the only horse in the field to beat Bodexpress? Identifier scored a 60-1 upset over third-place finisher Bodexpress in the March 28 Hal's Hope (G3) at Gulfstream but has gone winless in three subsequent starts. How about Blewitt? The namesake of Gulfstream analyst Jason Blewitt returns to Gulfstream, where he scored an optional claiming allowance April 9 before losing four straight in New York.

Of course, there are five other competitive Rainbow 6 legs to review before deciding whether to 'single' Bodexpress, include a 'saver' or 'toss' him in Race 9.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence will span Race 5-10 Saturday, kicking off with a 1 1/16-mile turf race for $12,500 claimers that have gone winless since April 17. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Keep Quiet, who lost by a neck as a beaten favorite last time out, is the 8-5 favorite in a field of 10. Trainer Jenna Antonucci, who is 2-for-4 at the GPW meet, will be represented by Basha, who finished third against better at Kentucky Downs last time out. Can't Trump Kitten drops down after racing competitively in starter optional claiming company.

Race 6, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for $16,000 claiming maidens, drew a field of 10, including first-time starters trained by David Fawkes and Kathleen O'Connell. Fawkes-trained Include the Beast is daughter of The Big Beast, while O'Connell-trained Hot Babe is a daughter of Fury Kapcori. Leading jockey Edgard Zayas returns aboard Piper, who produced an improved third-place effort in her second career start while dropping to the $16,000 claiming level. Antonio Sano-trained Pink Fizz, who most recently finished a spot behind Piper after experiencing trouble at the start while making her debut.

Sandra Matier-trained Fast Fraction has been installed as a strong 7-5 morning-line favorite for Race 7, a mile-and-70-yard 6,250 claiming race for fillies and mares. The 3-year-old daughter of Algorithms, who finished second as the beaten favorite in her last two starts at a one-turn mile, will stretch out around two turns Saturday. Inedatequila, who romped to a front-running maiden victory in her first start for trainer Kent Sweezey last time out at a one-turn mile, also stretches out Saturday.

Race 8, a co-featured optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, could well prove to be a 'spread' race with several horses appearing to have win potential, including Laura Cazares-trained Zodiac Princess, who returns to turf after her three-race winning streak was snapped in an off-the-turf race last time out. Meadow Beauty, who drops down from a troubled stakes outing, and Pardon My Heart, who returns from a five-month layoff since breaking her maiden during the Championship Meet, are scheduled to represent Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Race 9, win or lose, will be all about Bodexpress.

The Rainbow 6 sequence is scheduled conclude in Race 10 with a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on turf that attracted a full field of 2-year-old fillies, including first-time starters trained by Casse, Sweezey, Michael Maker, Saffie Joseph Jr. and Carlos David, as well as a second-time starter trained by Kenny McPeek. Did we hear someone say, 'Spread?'

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Fan-Favorite Bodexpress Seeks Stakes Breakthrough In Alydar

Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred and GDS Racing Stable's Bodexpress will look to run off with Sunday's $85,000 Alydar, a nine-furlong route restricted to 4-year-olds and upward yet to win a stake this year other than state-bred, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the multiple graded-stakes placed Bodexpress was a late scratch before the start of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 18 at Monmouth Park. He then re-routed to the Alydar at his home base at the Spa under the care of the conditioner's son and assistant trainer, Gustavo Delgado, Jr.

Bodexpress was also under consideration for last Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney, won by Improbable, and Delgado, Jr. expressed regret at not entering the colt in the compact, but talented, field of five.

“We were planning to enter him in the Whitney, and we were regretting not doing it because that race had no pace. They went [a quarter-mile] in 25, and almost 50 [to the half-mile],” said Delgado, Jr. “He probably would have been on the lead and not to say that he would have won it, but second or third in the Whitney would have been good.”

The 4-year-old Bodemeister bay has breezed twice on the Saratoga main track since scratching at Monmouth, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:02.66 Sunday under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano who has the call from post 5.

Bodexpress became an internet sensation after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in last year's Grade 1 Preakness before completing the course on his own accord. Delgado, Jr. said providing Castellano an opportunity to hop aboard the quirky colt in advance of Sunday was important.

“Last Sunday he breezed with Castellano on him, and he really liked him,” said Delgado, Jr. “He's got more confidence in him now. It's always good to get to know him first.”

A runner-up as a maiden in the 2019 Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Bodexpress was placed 13th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, ultimately graduating in October in a mile and seventy yard maiden tilt at Gulfstream Park West. He completed his eventful sophomore season with a third in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream.

Bodexpress has made three starts this season at Gulfstream, including a fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and a last-out third in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope at nine furlongs.

Delgado, Jr. said the well-traveled Bodexpress is enjoying his time at the Spa.

“He's doing really good. He's feeling good. He likes it here. The ambience, the weather, everything,” said Delgado, Jr.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold, a multiple graded-stakes winning son of Curlin, captured the 2018 Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga before running seventh in the Grade 1 Travers.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Kentucky homebred will make his return to the Spa off a third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 6 at Santa Anita, a 10-furlong event won by Improbable.

Ricardo Santana, Jr., who guided Tenfold to his most recent victory in the 2019 Grade 3 Pimlico Special, has the call from post six.

Godolphin homebred Endorsed, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt, earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure two starts back when second to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling a one-turn 1 1/16-miles on June 6 at Belmont.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Endorsed has shown good form at Saratoga where he graduated in a maiden sprint in August 2018 and last year added a second in the nine-furlong Curlin and rallying fourth in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Endorsed will be looking for his third win of the campaign following optional-claiming scores in January at Gulfstream for former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and a half-length win at Oaklawn Park in May at first asking for Mott.

Joel Rosario, aboard for a last-out seventh in the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile on July 4 at Belmont, retains the mount from the inside post.

Rounding out the field are Backsideofthemoon [post 2, Manny Franco], Spinoff [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], and Its All Relevant [post 4, Dylan Davis].

The Alydar is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Sunday's card will also feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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