Kentucky Derby contenders revisited: Bodexpress

Bodexpress (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson)

April 18th, 2024

Bodexpress made headlines with his riderless joyride in the 2019 Preakness (G1), where he extended his winless streak. He arrived at the first two Triple Crown races from a longshot second place finish in the Florida Derby (G1), and high odds continued to follow him throughout his career. But in his final race, he became a Grade 1 winner at Churchill Downs.

The bay colt was bred and raised at Mulholland Springs in Lexington, Ky., established by Martha Jane Mulholland and her late husband John. His father is Bodemeister, who romped in the 2012 Arkansas Derby (G1) to win by 9 1/2 lengths and then challenged winner I’ll Have Another in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1).

“From the very beginning, Bodexpress was always a strong, well balanced, classy colt,” Mulholland said. He was “always willing, compliant, easy to get along with.”

He and stablemate Maximus Mischief, who went on to win the Remsen (G2), entertained themselves by passing balls back and forth to each other.

He was offered at the Keeneland September Sale and Fasig-Tipton’s Midatlantic sale but failed to meet his reserve price at both events and was bought back both times. Global Thoroughbreds, who had an interest in the bay colt, decided to campaign him with Top Racing. Trainer Gustavo Delgado’s GDS Racing Stable also acquired an interest. Delgado was Venezuela's all-time top winning trainer before he came to Florida.

Bodexpress made his debut at Gulfstream Park West, finishing ninth. However, later he experienced success at Gulfstream Park, finishing second in a pair of maiden races. In the second, he lost by a neck after being bumped at the start. The performance gave his connections the confidence to enter him in the Florida Derby (G1).

However, the betting public was not as confident. He went off at 71-1 odds after unseating rider Nik Juarez shortly before loading. The pair recovered. Maximum Security wired the field, and Bodexpress was second all along the way but unable to challenge the leader.

These Florida Derby points made him the first horse on the also eligible list for the Kentucky Derby. The Wednesday before the race, favorite Omaha Beach was scratched because of a condition that could cause difficulties breathing. Bodexpress beat the odds to get into the starting gate and entered the Kentucky Derby as a maiden.

Although he did not join the ranks of Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919), and Brokers Tip (1933), the only three maidens to win the Derby, he did outperform his 71-1 odds. He hung with the pacesetters until Maximum Security moved out several paths and interfered with multiple horses, including him. Bodexpress faded from third to thirteenth. Maximum Security crossed the finish line first but was disqualified, making Country House the winner.

Encouraged by this performance, his connections decided to make another classic bid in the Preakness. Moments after the gates opened, Bodexpress threw jockey John Velazquez, who was uninjured. Riderless, Bodexpress stayed with the field the entire race. One outrider tried to chase him down as he entered the stretch run, but Bodexpress charged toward the finish line with the rest of the field, and kept running. He continued to evade outriders, stealing the show from winner War of Will and gaining fans for his independent spirit. He became a brief internet sensation.

In his following start, his eighth, a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park West, Bodexpress earned his first win. He collected a second one in his subsequent race. However, graded stakes wins continued to elude him in four additional attempts, including the Pegusus World Cup Invitational S. (G1).

He secured two more wins in his final two career races, bringing his career record to 4-4-3 from 17 starts with a current lifetime earning of $694,600. His penultimate victory was a dominating 11 1/4 length score, again at Gulfstream Park West, breaking an 18-year-old track record for one mile.

His final start provided one of the biggest surprises in a career that was full of them. He was among the fourteen contenders for Churchill’s Clark H. (G1). His decisive Gulfstream win led to 11-1 odds instead of the sky high numbers he posted during Triple Crown season. In a race with no mishaps, Bodexpress was forwardly placed throughout the contest, made a three-wide move and took the lead in the final furlong, turning back multiple Grade 1 winner Code of Honor.

After the Clark, Bodexpress was named an early contender for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup. However, Delgardo discovered a soft tissue injury that led to his retirement. A truly unusual career was over. Upon retirement Bodexpress's stud fee was $5,000 at Barton Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, California. For the 2024 breeding season he will stand in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions for a fee of $3,500.

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Kentucky Derby contenders revisited: Bodexpress

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