Bodexpress Set to Make Return at Gulfstream Park West

Bodexpress, who has not raced since unseating his rider in the Preakness Stakes (G1) in May, is scheduled to make a run at a belated graduation in the Oct. 14 Columbus Day program at Gulfstream Park West.

The 3-year-old son of Bodemeister owned by Top Racing, Global Thoroughbreds, and trainer Gustavo Delgado's GDS Racing Stable will bring a rather imposing résumé into the mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight event that is carded as race 2.

Bodexpress earned a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after a runner-up finish in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) behind Maximum Security March 30 at Gulfstream Park. He finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Code of Honor, who went on to finish third in the Derby before being elevated to second after the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Bodexpress failed to break his maiden in four tries before his Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness efforts. He reared at the start of the May 18 Preakness, unseating John Velazquez, and was later caught by outriders unharmed.

"After that stressful event, we wanted to give him a break," said Gustavo Delgado Jr., the son and assistant trainer of the Venezuelan training legend who ventured to South Florida in 2011. "We sent him to Ocala (Fla.). One of the owners owns a farm up there."

Bodexpress has had a series of six workouts for his return, including a pair of strong five-furlong breezes in his most recent morning outings. His latest came Oct. 5 in which he completed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 to be second-fastest of 21.

"He's been doing really, really well. He's been improving every week. He's giving the signals that he's coming back in the same shape he was in," Delgado said. "He's looking like a million bucks right now. Not only that, but he seems more mature. He's quieter, so we're hoping that's a good sign."

Before the Florida Derby, Bodexpress had a tough beat in a Feb. 16 maiden special weight won by Shancelot, who went on to win the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course by 12 1/2 lengths and is likely to be one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

"It's unbelievable the horses he's faced," Delgado said. "We're hoping he comes back at the same level. I'm not saying he's 100% in shape, but if he's anywhere close, he should deliver in this race."

Bodexpress enters Monday's race as one of racing's most high-profile maidens.

"He's famous now," Delgado said. "He's famous maybe for the reasons we don't want him to be famous for, but we take that in a very humble way."