Bodexpress targets Saratoga's Whitney after Monmouth Cup scratch
Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred and GDS Racing Stable's Bodexpress was a late scratch before the start of Saturday's Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park and is now under consideration for the $750,000 Whitney (G1) on Aug. 1 at Saratoga, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said.
Delgado, Jr. said Bodexpress had a small abrasion on his nose incurred while traveling to Monmouth Park.
"When he was warming up for the race, they said he was bleeding and the state vet scratched him," said Delgado, Jr., the 31-year-old son of trainer Gustavo Delgado who is overseeing a stable of three horses at Saratoga that includes Bodexpress, Peter Pan (G3) runner-up Caracaro and maiden winner Summer Kid.
Bodexpress, a 4-year-old Bodemeister colt, became an internet sensation after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in last year's Preakness Stakes before completing the course on his own accord.
"This horse is full of stories, but this one is not because of him," Delgado, Jr said. "He behaved well, and he was doing everything that he had to do. He came back good, scoped fine, and he's already home and walked this morning."
Deadline for nominations to the nine-furlong Whitney, which offers an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, closed Saturday.
"I was watching the race and I nominated him as soon as we realized he wasn't running yesterday," Delgado, Jr. said.
A runner-up as a maiden in the 2019 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, Bodexpress was placed 13th in the Kentucky Derby, ultimately graduating in October in a mile-and-70-yard maiden tilt at Gulfstream Park West. He completed his eventful sophomore season with a third in the Harlan's Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream.
Bodexpress has made three starts this season at Gulfstream, including a fifth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and a last-out third in the Hal's Hope (G3) at nine furlongs.
"He's ready,” Delgado Jr. said. “And he always runs better when he's fresh.”