Clark winner Bodexpress is suddenly retired with a leg injury

No one knew it at the time. When Bodexpress won the Clark Stakes (G1) late last month at Churchill Downs, it turned out to be his last race.

Plans to use that victory nine days earlier as a catapult into next month’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) were dashed Sunday night, when the 4-year-old was suddenly retired with a swollen leg.

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“He suffered a career-ending injury,” trainer and part-owner Gustavo Delgado said in a message posted on Twitter at 10:35 p.m. ET. “A very talented colt who finally showed his potential at (Churchill Downs).”

Delgado’s son and assistant, Gustavo Jr., said in a Monday morning text to HRN that Bodexpress developed a leg injury during the Nov. 27 race.

“We gave it a few days to let the swelling subside before running him through a litany of veterinary exams,” he said. “Unfortunately, after consulting with various medical experts, we came to the conclusion that a return to 100 percent soundness wouldn’t be possible.”

Delgado Jr. said that stud plans are still in the works for the Kentucky-bred colt sired by Bodemeister and owned by Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred and the Delgado stable.

“We are currently accepting offers and fielding all inquiries.” he said, adding his email address — gdelgadod@gmail.com. “(He) is quite an attractive stallion prospect for any market.”

The Clark and the 103 Beyer Speed Figure that came with it were the pinnacle of a modest but colorful career for Bodexpress.

His second-place finish to Maximum Security in the Florida Derby (G1) qualified him for last year’s Kentucky Derby as an also-eligible, which drew in with the scratch of futures favorite Omaha Beach. He was still a maiden when he raced in the Derby, finishing 14th before being promoted to 13th when Maximum Security was disqualified from victory.

Bodexpress gained most of his notoriety two weeks later, when he threw Hall of Fame rider John Velázquez at the start and ran loose around the track in the Preakness Stakes.

After a five months off, he finally broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park West, where he won twice before being put into graded-stakes company again. A third-place finish last December in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) set him up to finish a competitive fifth in this year’s Pegasus World Cup.

After he tired to finish last in the Gulfstream Park Stakes (G2) in February, Bodexpress would never finish out of the money again. Most of those last five races were against lesser competition, including an allowance win in October at Gulfstream Park West.

No wonder Bodexpress carried 11-1 odds into the Thanksgiving week running of the Clark. Ridden for the first time by Rafael Bejarano, he poached the early pace before taking the lead for good with 1 1/2 furlongs to go. When during the race he got hurt was not immediately clear.

“Bodexpress’ health comes first, so we had to do what was best for the horse and retire him,” Delgado Jr. said.

Bodexpress finished his career as a winner with a record of 17:4-4-3 and earnings of $694,600.

“Thank you, Bode, for the journey and memories,” the elder Delgado’s Tweet said. “To his fans, thank you for your support.”