Arkansas Derby a Possible Spot for Wells Bayou

Under normal circumstances, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Wells Bayou would make his next start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), traditionally run the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/4-mile classic, however, has been moved to Sept. 5 due to the COVID-19 crisis, and a new date for the Preakness Stakes (G1) has yet to be announced.

That uncertainty has the connections of Wells Bayou, including trainer Brad Cox, considering a start in the $750,000 Arkansas Derby (G1), moved to May 2, at Oaklawn Park. The Lookin At Lucky  colt worked a half-mile in :49 4/5 April 6 on a track rated good at Oaklawn, his first work since the March 21 Louisiana Derby.

"We'd love to win the Arkansas Derby," co-owner Lance Gasaway said. "Everything now is all based on what they do with the Preakness. We have no idea. We just don't know. And we want him here. Trust me, we want to run here in Arkansas. We love it here. But it's like Brad always says: 'You want to do what's best for the horse.' That's what we've got to look at."

Gasaway and his father, Clint, both Arkansas natives, are majority owners of Wells Bayou, who scored 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby with a frontrunning 1 1/2-length victory in the Louisiana Derby.

Liz Crow of BSW Bloodstock selected Wells Bayou for the Gasaways, then brokered a deal before the Louisiana Derby to bring in BSW clients Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables and Marc Lore of Wonder Stables as partners on the Triple Crown hopeful.

Crow said the Arkansas Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race originally scheduled for April 11, is now in play.

"I think it's on the table, for sure," Crow said. "Everybody's in agreement that it's completely Brad's decision. If he wants to run there, then we'll run there. If he doesn't, then we'll wait."

The problem, Crow said, is what to wait for.

"I think that's Brad's point, too," Crow said. "We really don't know what's going to happen with Churchill. They haven't made an announcement of when they're going to open their meet. Do you sit and wait for something? What's going to happen with the Preakness? You don't know what's going to happen with any of these races. It's crazy."

Before the Louisiana Derby, Wells Bayou was based at Oaklawn, where he won a first-level allowance Jan. 26 and was second in the Feb. 17 Southwest Stakes (G3). The latter effort scored him four points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility. 

"I think Brad had always thought this horse had some talent," Crow said. "I think from day one, he liked what he saw from him. Just saw an immature horse that needed to grow up but kind of thought he had some talent. We weren't surprised by his performance in the Southwest, but it was nice to see him step up to that class level and actually deliver that kind of performance."

Purchased for $105,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Wells Bayou has a 3-1-0 record from five starts and earnings of $845,293. He is second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 104 points.

The Arkansas Derby offers 170 Kentucky Derby points (100-40-20-10) to the top four finishers.