Bodexpress, Knicks Go Could Return in Pegasus World Cup

Now with a breakthrough victory in the Nov. 27 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs, Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred, and GDS Racing Stable's Bodexpress is set to make his return journey to South Florida on Nov. 30 with the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park as a likely next start. He was fifth in this year's Pegasus, beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Mucho Gusto. 

"Everything is good," said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to his father, trainer Gustavo Delgado. "He'll spend a few days in Ocala, Fla., before returning to Gulfstream Park West. Gulfstream Park is our home track. So the likely next spot could be the Pegasus."

Bodexpress, most known for his antics in the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) when he jumped out of the starting gate and lost jockey John Velazquez before running alongside the field, gave jockey Rafael Bejarano his first victory in the Clark. 

"It means a lot to my career to win this race," Bejarano said. "I spent many years at Churchill in the past, and this was always a big race to win in the fall meet. I'm glad we were able to do so now that I'm back home in Kentucky."

Bejarano intends to ride at least in December at Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky.

Bodexpress improved his record to 4-4-3 through 17 starts. The 4-year-old son of Bodemeister  has now banked $694,600.

Another horse that could join the Pegasus lineup is Knicks Go, winner of the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7, trainer Brad Cox said. The 4-year-old Paynter  colt recorded his first breeze since the Dirt Mile with a half-mile in :49 4/5 at Churchill Nov. 28.

At 1 1/8 miles, the Pegasus would be the longest race of his career. All 17 of his starts have been at 1 1/16 miles or shorter. A dual grade 1 winner owned by Korea Racing Authority, he also captured the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in October 2018 for previous trainer Ben Colebrook.

Knicks Go was acquired by KRA as a yearling with the hope that he could develop into a stallion prospect, but for now, the plan is to continue racing.

"He's going to start the year," Cox said, leaving open the possibility that he may continue running beyond that. 

The Pegasus is positioned on the calendar to where it allows potential stallion prospects to compete before the breeding season begins.

Cox may also have a Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf (G1T) starter in Arklow, who won the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar Nov. 27 for Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and the estate of Peter Coneway. He rallied belatedly for fifth in the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf this year but has been showing more speed over his past three starts since adding blinkers. That makes Cox feel more comfortable about a cutback in distance for the $1 million race.

A 6-year-old son of Arch, Arklow won the Hollywood Turf Cup after arriving in California the day before the race. A cross-country flight carrying him and other Cox trainees from Kentucky was delayed.