Bodexpress possible for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
MIAMI – The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is now under consideration for Bodexpress following his near record-setting performance in Saturday’s allowance feature at Gulfstream Park West.
Bodexpress led throughout while cruising to a one-sided 11 1/4-length tally as the 2-5 favorite here Saturday, his final time of 1:42.53 just .01 slower than Mr. Jordan’s 1 1/16-mile course record set nearly two years earlier. Bodexpress would have likely broken the mark had jockey Emisael Jaramillo not eased up on him some through the final 40 yards with the outcome no longer in doubt.
Bodexpress received a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, one point better than his previous high set here a year ago for a similarly easy allowance win at one mile.
“He really loves this track, which is why we were very confident going into the race,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to his father, trainer Gustavo Delgado. “I would say this was probably his best effort yet. The good thing is he came out of the race well. It was a pretty easy race for him. It really hasn’t seemed to have taken a lot out of him.”
Delgado had said immediately after the race that the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27 was under consideration for Bodexpress’s next start. But less than 48 hours later, after assessing their options, Delgado said the owners are now thinking about the Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7. Bodexpress is owned in partnership by Global Thoroughbreds LLC, Top Racing LLC, and the senior Delgado’s GDS Racing Stable,
“The main thing about the Dirt Mile is that it’s around two turns at Keeneland, which suits him perfectly,” the younger Delgado said. “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.”