Wells Bayou, Warrior's Charge Work at Oaklawn Park

Two accomplished runners for trainer Brad Cox recorded workouts on an overcast morning April 19 at Oaklawn Park, including Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and Arkansas Derby (G1) candidate Wells Bayou.

The son of Lookin At Lucky breezed in company under exercise rider Gustavo Abrego, the brother of assistant trainer Jorgito Abrego, who oversees Cox's Oaklawn division. Wells Bayou covered five furlongs on a fast track in 1:00 2/5, his third move since winning the March 21 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Wells Bayou, on the outside during his drill with stablemate Wild Union, was credited with splits of :24 2/5 for his opening quarter-mile, :36 4/5 for three furlongs, :48 2/5 for a half-mile, and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and seven furlongs in 1:26 2/5.

"We were looking for a good work today—if we decide to run," the Kentucky-based Cox said Sunday morning. "It was one of those things where we were just kind of looking to see how he would respond, and he worked really well. Pleased with him.

"I would label him a candidate right now," Cox said, referring to the Arkansas Derby status of Wells Bayou.

Wells Bayou ranks second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 104 points, including 100 for his Louisiana Derby victory. He also earned four points for his runner-up finish in the Feb. 17 Southwest Stakes (G3).

Warrior's Charge, another stakes winner for Cox, also breezed Sunday in advance of the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses. Warrior's Charge, under exercise rider Edvin Vargas, went a half-mile in :47, the second-fastest of 53 works at the distance. Clockers had the 4-year-old son of Munnings  galloping out five furlongs in 1:00, six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5.

Warrior's Charge hasn't started since a frontrunning victory by a head in the Feb. 17 Razorback Handicap (G3), a major prep for the Oaklawn Handicap. 

"He's obviously a horse that does not need company as he gets older," Cox said. "(Older horses) tend to do things on their own, get some races underneath them. He's a really, really solid work horse. He's doing what we like to see leading up to this race. Very similar to how he led up to the Razorback. It looks like it's going to be a really solid race. He's a solid horse, so we'll see what happens."

The 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap closed Thursday with 38 nominations.

Baffert said in a text message Sunday morning that grade 1 winner Improbable is pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap. In his 4-year-old debut, Improbable finished second in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile Stakes.

Cox is also scheduled to start Night Ops in the Oaklawn Handicap. Owned by prominent Arkansas automobile dealer Steve Landers, Night Ops won the Essex Handicap, a major steppingstone to the Oaklawn Handicap, in his most recent start.