Clark winner Bodexpress retired

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Bodexpress, who upset the Clark at Churchill Downs last month for his first Grade 1 win, has been retired, his connections reported on Monday. Bodexpress was expected to be among the leading candidates for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational here on Jan. 23.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado, in a statement on Twitter, said Bodexpress suffered his career-ending injury in the Clark. A 4-year-old son of Bodemeister, Bodexpress is on the farm in Ocala, Fla., while plans are finalized for a stallion career. Neither Delgado nor his son Gustavo Jr. could be reached for comment on Monday.

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Bodexpress first gained attention by finishing second behind Maximum Security as a maiden in the 2019 Florida Derby. Two months later, he reared and unseated jockey John Velazquez at the start of the Preakness. Bodexpress improved with maturity, setting a course record winning an allowance race over his home base at Gulfstream Park West later that season prior to a third-place finish to close out his 3-year-old campaign here in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday.

Bodexpress finished fifth in the 2020 Pegasus World Cup, but did not really hit his best stride until the tail-end of the season. He won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park West in October by 11 1/4 lengths as a prelude to his wire-to-wire one-length victory over the favored Code of Honor in the Clark.

Owned by Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbred, and GDS Racing Stable, Bodexpress retires with four wins in 17 starts and earnings of $694,600.