Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bodexpress Springs the Upset in the Clark

Bodexpress (Bodemeister) has had an unconventional career, running in the GI Florida Derby, GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. last year–and throwing his rider at the start of the latter–as a maiden. Placing in a trio of stakes since then, the bay finally earned his black-type badge Friday at the highest level with an 11-1 upset in Churchill’s GI Clark H.

Away alertly, Bodexpress pressed from second early as 155-1 shot Phantom Currency (Goldencents) clocked opening splits of :23.39 and :47.94. Headed by Mr. Freeze (To Honor and Serve) to his inside, Bodexpress maintained his position through three-quarters in 1:12.77. Mr. Freeze took over from Phantom Currency approaching the far turn and Bodexpress ranged up on his outside with favored Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) splitting horses outside of him. Coastal Defense (Curlin) joined the assault to Mr. Freeze’s inside and Owendale (Into Mischief) rallied outside of Code of Honor, but Bodexpress was going strongest of all and forged clear in the final sixteenth to score.

“This is a different horse than we saw last year during the Triple Crown campaign,” said trainer Gustavo Delgado’s son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado, Jr. “He’s really matured. Turning for home I thought we had a really good shot. The horse deserves this most of all. I’m very happy for everyone involved but we are so happy for Bodexpress.”

“This horse just showed so much run today,” winning rider Rafael Bejarano said. “I’m so proud of him. [Phantom Currency] was going so fast on the lead and we were able to sit a really good trip just behind him. He relaxed very nicely for me and turning for home I could feel I still had a lot of horse underneath me. He had a lot of energy in deep stretch when we needed it to hold off the rest of the horses. It’s very special winning a race like this returning to Kentucky to ride this year. This is my home and we’ve had a lot of success here in my career. This was very special.”

Runner-up to future champion Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the Florida Derby last season, Bodexpress was promoted to 13th due to the disqualification of that rival in the Kentucky Derby and dumped his rider at the start of the Preakness. Breaking his maiden next out at Gulfstream West last October, he won an allowance there a month later and finished his sophomore season with a third in the GIII Harlan’s Holiday S. last December. Off the board in the GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 25 and the GII Gulfstream Park Mile Feb. 19, Bodexpress was third in the GIII Hal’s Hope S. Mar. 28 and filled the same spot in Saratoga’s Alydar S. Aug. 9. Second in a Churchill optional claimer Sept. 5, the 4-year-old demolished the field by 11 1/4 lengths next out at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 17.

Pedigree Notes:

Bodexpress is the second Grade I winner for the expatriated Bodemeister, following GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming. He is also one of six graded winners and 19 black-type scorers for the stallion. The winner is the second graded winner and 15th stakes winner out of a daughter of City Zip. Pied a Terre has only produced one foal since Bodexpress, a juvenile filly by Gemologist.

Friday, Churchill Downs
CLARK S. PRESENTED BY NORTON HEALTHCARE-GI, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 11-27, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.12, ft.
1–BODEXPRESS, 121, c, 4, by Bodemeister
1st Dam: Pied a Terre, by City Zip
2nd Dam: Lady Auchamore, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Explosive Kate, by Explodent
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($45,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $37,000 RNA 2yo ’18 EASMAY). O-Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbred & GDS Racing Stable; B-Martha Jane Mulholland (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado; J-Rafael Bejarano. $282,100. Lifetime Record: 17-4-4-3, $694,600. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Code of Honor, 121, c, 4, Noble Mission (GB)–Reunited, by Dixie Union. ($70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O/B-W S Farish (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III. $91,000.
3–Owendale, 121, c, 4, Into Mischief–Aspen Light, by Bernardini. ($200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Rupp Racing; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $45,500.
Margins: 1, 1, NK. Odds: 11.70, 1.60, 6.90.
Also Ran: Coastal Defense, Mr Freeze, Silver Prospector, By My Standards, Bourbon Calling, Crafty Daddy, Title Ready, Multiplier, Aurelius Maximus, Plus Que Parfait, Phantom Currency. Scratched: In Love (Brz). Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Cross Country Pick 5 Features All Stakes From Aqueduct, Churchill Downs

The New York Racing Association will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., and Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

In contrast to previous years when the Cross Country Pick 5 wager ended in October, November features 12 Cross Country Pick 5 wagers from Aqueduct Racetrack and Churchill. The wager will be offered Friday, Saturday and conclude on Sunday, November 29, which is closing day of Churchill's fall meet.

Live coverage will be available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. Free Equibase past performances for all Cross Country Pick 5 sequences will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Saturday's all-stakes sequence kicks off with the $100,000 Central Park for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf, where Repole Stable's impressive first-out winner Never Surprised will vie for stakes supremacy against nine others, including Hard Love who also won his career debut. Laurel Futurity winner Catman will hope to make amends from an eighth-place finish in Belmont Park's Awad for trainer Mike Maker. Carded as Race 7 on Aqueduct's 10-race program, the Central Park has a scheduled post time of 2:44 p.m.

Oak Bluff Stables' eight-time stakes winning New York-bred Therapist seeks to add to his lengthy resume in the $100,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship [Race 9, 3:44 p.m.] and cuts back to six furlongs after scoring in the one-mile Artie Schiller on November 14 for trainer and co-breeder Christophe Clement. Multiple graded stakes winner El Tormenta will seek his first triumph since an upset win in last year's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, while multiple-graded stakes winner True Valour will seek two straight victories for trainer Graham Motion after an allowance score on November 14 over the all-weather surface at Woodbine.

In the middle leg of the sequence, a dozen fillies and mares, plus one also eligible entrant, will face an endurance test in the Grade 3, $100,000 Long Island. Clement brings a strong three-horse punch to the 11-furlong event over Aqueduct's inner turf, including Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina, who makes her second start in North America after a game third-place finish in the Zagora on October 31 over a yielding Widener turf course at Belmont Park. Clement also will saddle three-time winner Traipsing and multiple stakes-placed Wegetsdamunnys.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out Peter Brant's Eliade after making her fourth start in North America a winning one, when the daughter of Teofilo scored a narrow victory against winners going 1 ½ miles over the Keeneland lawn. Carded as the Saturday finale, the Long Island has a scheduled post time of 4:13 p.m.

Action shifts to Churchill Downs for the remaining two legs of the sequence, starting with the Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod for juvenile fillies going 1 1/16 miles over the main track. The 10-4-2-1 qualifier for the 2021 Kentucky Oaks features Grade 1-winner Simply Ravishing, who was a last out fourth to Vequist in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The daughter of freshman stallion Laoban will face off against Stonestreet Stables' promising Clairiere, who made her career debut a winning one for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen going the Golden Rod distance on October 25 at Churchill Downs. The regally bred daughter of Curlin is out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Cavorting. Post time for the Golden Rod [Race 9] is 4:57 p.m.

Closing out the sequence is the Golden Rod's male counterpart race – the Grade 2, $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club which drew a field of eight juvenile colts. Trainer Dale Romans will saddle three contenders in the race, led by Albaugh Family Stables' Sittin On Go, who was an upset winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois on September 5 at the Louisville oval. Romans will also saddle Smiley Sobotka, a last out maiden winner at second asking, and Ultimate Badger, who defeated winners going two turns last out on October 25 at Churchill Downs.

After finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Keepmeinmind will seek his first trip to the winner's circle for trainer Robertino Diodoro. The son of Laoban was made the 6-5 morning line favorite for the 10-4-2-1 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby, which has a scheduled post time of 5:56 p.m.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Every day will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The 2020 fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack kicked off on Friday, November 6 and continues through Sunday, December 6. Highlighted by the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile on Saturday, December 5, the 18-day fall meet at Aqueduct features 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 in purses.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the 18-day fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, November 28:

Leg A: Aqueduct-Race 7 (2:44 pm) $100K Central Park

Leg B: Aqueduct-Race 9 (3:44 pm) $100K Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship

Leg C: Aqueduct-Race 10 (4:13 pm) G3 $100K Long Island

Leg D: Churchill-Race 9 (4:57 pm) G2 $200K Golden Rod

Leg E: Churchill-Race 11 (5:56 pm) G2 $200K Kentucky Jockey Club

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Saturday’s Insights: Pricey Uncle Mo Colt Debuts at Big A

Sponsored by Alex Nichols

6th-Aqueduct, $80k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:15 p.m. ET

Bob LaPenta, Gainesway and Bridlewood Farm’s ALL MO (Uncle Mo) debuts for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The $450,000 KEENOV weanling turned $900,000 KEESEP yearling is a half to stakes winner and graded placed Fusaichi Red (Fusaichi Pegasus). TJCIS PPs

4th-Churchill, $85k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, post time: 2:27 p.m. ET

Andrew Farm and For the People Racing’s BUGLE OF WAR (War Front), a $400,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The colt is out of Group 1 placed Princess Sinead (Ire) (Jeremy). Larry Jones sends out Fox Hill Farms firster Galilee (Pioneerof the Nile). A $475,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, the bay colt is a half-brother to Grade I winner Cupid (Tapit), as well as graded winners Ashley’s Kitty (Tale of the Cat) and Heart Ashley (Lion Heart). D J Stable’s Dolder Grand (Candy Ride {Arg}), an $800,000 OBS April purchase, returns to the maiden ranks following a third-place finish in the Sept. 20 GI Summer S. TJCIS PPs

4th-Del Mar, $57k, Msw, 1m, post time: 4:59 p.m. ET

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm’s EDITOR IN CHIEF (Curlin), a $650,000 FTSAUG yearling, makes his first trip to the post for trainer Bob Baffert. The gray colt is out of the unraced Tapas (Tapit), who is a half-sister to MGSW Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), dam of graded winners New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}) and Mohaymen (Tapit). China Horse Club purchased Tapas for $1.3 million at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale. C R K Stable’s Parnelli (Quality Road) has opened his career with runner-up efforts behind highly accomplished foes, debuting with a second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Superman Shaq (Shackleford) at Del Mar Sept. 6, behind GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) at Santa Anita Oct. 2, and behind $1-million yearling Spielberg (Union Rags) at this track and trip Nov. 1. Qatar Racing and Three Chimneys Farm’s North Pole (Pioneerof the Nile), a $1.05-million KEESEP yearling, makes his third trip to the post. Second sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in his Aug. 16 debut, the colt faded to eighth going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita Oct. 24. TJCIS PPs

8th-Fair Grounds, $47k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 5:31 p.m. ET

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out firster MORNING FROST (Frosted) for owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. The gray filly was a $550,000 KEESEP yearling purchase and is out of graded placed Live for Now (Tiznow), a half-sister to champion Point Given (Thunder Gulch). TJCIS PPs

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‘Fury’ Looking For Redemption in Kentucky JC

Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm’s King Fury (Curlin) is undefeated in two prior starts at Churchill Downs and tries to annex his first graded victory in Saturday’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. A debut winner at the Louisville oval in September, the chestnut was eighth in Keeneland’s GI Breeders’ Futurity S. Oct. 3 before bouncing back to score in the Oct. 25 Street Sense S. Last time out, the 2-year-old finished seventh under Brian Hernandez Jr. in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 6.

“He’s 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs so we know he really likes it here,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “We’ve added blinkers to him in hopes to get him to the next level. I think they could add to his focus and really get him there. His only two blemishes came at Keeneland, so we’re excited to get him back to Churchill.”

McPeek will attempt to add his second win in the Kentucky Jockey Club following Signalman in 2018.

Dale Romans offers a three-pronged attack, led by GIII Iroquois S. winner Sittin On Go (Brody’s Cause). Campaigned by the Albaugh Family, the chestnut launched his career with a five-furlong win at Ellis in August before taking his route bow in the Iroquois. He was most recently ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Running for the same connections, Smiley Sobotka (Brody’s Cause) was runner-up in his career bow while negotiating 6 1/2 furlongs at Ellis in August before graduating in his route unveiling at Keeneland Oct. 4. Rounding out the Romans triumvirate is Ultimate Badger (Commissioner), who won his latest start in a optional claimer over track and trip Oct. 25.

Looking for a class break is Keepmeinmind (Laoban), on the board in all three prior starts, including a second in the Breeders’ Futurity followed by a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. David Cohen, aboard for the bay’s first two career starts, reunites with the colt Saturday.

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