Wells Bayou should improve second start after long layoff

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The presence of graded stakes winners Wells Bayou and Background spice up the Sunday allowance feature at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up drew a highly competitive group of seven. The conditioned allowance could produce starters for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile on April 2 or the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 23.

Wells Bayou is the most accomplished member of the field, having won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in 2020 at Fair Grounds. Sunday’s race will be the second off a layoff for Wells Bayou, who was sixth in a stakes-quality allowance over a mile Feb. 21 at Oaklawn. It was won by Necker Island and it was the first out since April for Wells Bayou.

“His first run back he laid close to a hot pace,” said trainer Brad Cox. “He showed some run. He faded, and I thought he got a little tired.

“This race is a mile and a sixteenth and that’s probably a little more to his liking as opposed to a mile. I’m confident he’ll take a step forward.”

Florent Geroux has the mount from post 5 for Clint Gasaway, Lance Gasaway, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables.

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Wells Bayou could get a tracking trip behind such rivals as sprint-to-route prospect Background.

Background won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 15 at Emerald Downs. He’s made one start since, coming back at a sprint distance Feb. 20 at Oaklawn. Background finished fifth in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance won by multiple stakes winner Hollis.

“We’ve got a short race and we’ve been hoping for an allowance race around two turns,” Michael Puhich, who trains Background, said recently.

Puhich said Background could become a candidate for the Oaklawn Mile.

Background is 3 for 10 with four third-place finishes at Oaklawn.

Geovanni Franco has the mount from post 7 for Giddyup Stables.

Puhich is in the midst of a strong meet at Oaklawn. Through Thursday, he’s 4 for 18 with a 22 percent strike rate. He has a 12-horse division here.

“It’s been good,” he said.

Beaver Hat was second last out in a local allowance won by millionaire Warrior’s Charge, who is a candidate for the Grade 3, $500,000 Essex Handicap next Saturday, according to his trainer, Cox.

Beaver Hat might get a nice pace setup Sunday behind such horses as Background, Market Analysis, Wells Bayou, and Taishan.

Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 6 for trainer Brian Williamson.

An honest pace could also serve the cause of Sonneman and My Sixth Sense.

Oaklawn’s racing schedule changes for the next four weeks as it makes up dates lost to inclement weather. The track has added four Thursdays – March 17, 24 and 31, and April 7.