Bodemeister

It's been a difficult few years for Phil Serpe and his stable. Like many smaller outfits trying to compete at a top-tier racing circuit, he has seen his number of horses dwindle as owners move in favor of consolidating their operations in the barns of "super trainers". Partly due to circumstance, partly due to that increasing monopolization of the sport, Serpe has had an especially trying 2021. Heading into this past weekend, he had just two winners to his name since the calendar turned--a 4-year-old maiden-breaker named King Angelo (Lemon...

WellSpring Stables' New York invader Safe Conduct (Bodemeister) pressed, pounced and just held off the late-charging Riptide Rock (Point of Entry) to win the 162nd Queen's Plate in a dramatic finish at Woodbine Sunday. With top U.S. jockey Irad Ortiz, riding in his first Queen's Plate, in the irons and making his first start over a synthetic surface, the 3-1 favorite was under a hold while tracking longshot pacesetter Take a Chance (Munnings) through fractions of :24.01 and :48.37. The bay colt rolled up to challenge the pacesetter nearing the...

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Vequist (Nyquist) was bet like she could not lose her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park, but she never so much as truly reached contention, as Wholebodemeister (Bodemeister) got loose and brave on the lead and scampered clear to cause a 52-1 boilover. Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) was a bit hesitant to load, but closed off decently for second ahead of 53-1 Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge) in third. Drawn the fence with Edgard Zayas calling the shots, Wholebodemeister put herself...

Fan favorite Bodexpress (Bodemeister--Pied a Terre, by City Zip), recent winner of the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs Nov. 27, has been retired after suffering an undisclosed, career-ending injury in the race, according to a tweet late Sunday from trainer and part-owner Gustavo Delgado. "With great regret, we announce the retirement of Bodexpress," the tweet read. "He suffered a career-ending injury while winning the G1 Clark Handicap. A very talented colt, who finally showed his potential at CD. Thank you Bode for the journey & memories. To his fans,...

Bodexpress (Bodemeister) has had an unconventional career, running in the GI Florida Derby, GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. last year--and throwing his rider at the start of the latter--as a maiden. Placing in a trio of stakes since then, the bay finally earned his black-type badge Friday at the highest level with an 11-1 upset in Churchill's GI Clark H. Away alertly, Bodexpress pressed from second early as 155-1 shot Phantom Currency (Goldencents) clocked opening splits of :23.39 and :47.94. Headed by Mr. Freeze (To Honor and Serve)...

MGSW American Anthem (Bodemeister--Indy's Windy by A.P. Indy) has been purchased by Reliance Ranches, in a sale brokered by Pat Morelli, and will stand stud at Sierra Blanco Equine in New Mexico. Bred by WinStar Farm, he was purchased by Aron Yagoda's E.J. Stable for $180,000 at KEESEP and resold to his breeder in partnership with China Horse Club for $435,000 at OBS March. He won three graded events, including the GII Woody Stephens S., and placed in multiple Grade Is for those connections and trainer Bob Baffert, before selling...

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Speed Pass (Bodemeister), an open-lengths winner in two outings against lesser company at Los Alamitos, will get the acid test Saturday at Santa Anita in an evenly-matched renewal of the GII Palos Verdes S. Bought for $150,000 at Keeneland September in 2017, the dark bay didn't make his debut until Sept. 20 of his 3-year-old season, but rallied smartly up the rail to graduate at this trip. Catching a sealed track following a brief layoff Dec. 7, the gelding took a significant step...

Graded-stakes winners Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Tenfold (Curlin) and C R K Stable's Midcourt (Midnight Lute) and Grade 1-placed Bodexpress (Bodemeister), campaigned by Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbreds LLC and GDS Racing Stable, were added Sunday to the formal list of invitees to the Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Winner of the GII Jim Dandy S. at three, Tenfold added a victory in the GIII Pimlico Special last season. In 2019, Midcourt reeled off four consecutive victories, including the GIII Native Diver S. at Santa...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-ELP, $50k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 5:42 p.m. ET Trainer Mark Casse sends out a pair of regally bred fillies in Friday's fifth event at Ellis. CRYSTAL GLACIER (Curlin), a daughter of the same stallion that lit up the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales ring during Monday's session with three seven-figure colts, was acquired by Live Oak for the sum of $500,000 as a yearling at that sale a year ago. The dark bay hails from the family of Grade I winner and sire Majestic Warrior...

One week from tomorrow Fasig-Tipton kicks off the 2015 North American yearling market with the Kentucky July yearling sale, in which 40 years ago this year, Seattle Slew sold as a yearling for $17,500 to Karen and Mickey Taylor, and it's been producing good horses ever since. This year 332 yearlings are catalogued--a 25% increase on last year's 265--to be followed by around 100 horses of racing age, minus withdrawals, plus 'wild cards'. Fasig catalogued 258 yearlings in 2013, significantly down from the 338 catalogued in 2012. That year 189...