FAIR GROUNDS: WELLS BAYOU WIRES THE LOUISIANA DERBY

By Joe Kristufek —-

Wells Bayou; Photos by Hodges Photography

In front of an empty grandstand, trainer Brad Cox wins the final three stakes on Louisiana Derby Day

New Orleans (March 21, 2020) – As the world is in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Grounds’ signature race day unfolded in front of a vacant grandstand, with just horsemen and essential employees allowed on site, and keeping their distance from one another.

For trainer Brad Cox, the memories will reach far beyond the atmosphere. Just nine days short of his 40th birthday, the Louisville, Kentucky native won the final three stakes on the Louisiana Derby Day program, including the 107th edition of the $1 million Twin Spires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) with Clint Gasaway, Lance Gasaway, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables’ Wells Bayou. Cox, who won four races total on the day, also captured the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) with Bonnie South and the Mervin Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) with Factor This.

Away alertly as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite, Wells Bayou set reasonable fractions of 23.56, 48.00 and 1:12.42. Never seriously menaced in the stretch, he held firm to win by 1 ½ lengths over Ny Traffic, who chased the winner throughout. It was 2 ¾ lengths back to Modernist, the winner of the second division of the Risen Star (G2) in third. The final time for 1 3/16ths-miles over a fast track was 1:56.47.

“He’s was great leaving the gate,” said jockey Florent Geroux, who won three of the eight stakes on the card. “He stands there perfectly and then breaks super sharp. After that, when he makes the lead, he relaxes very nicely. We took a few breathers around the turns and then when we turned down the lane, he didn’t lose his gear.”

After finishing second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, where he has been stabled most of the winter, Cox elected to pass on last weekend’s Rebel (G2) with the 3-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, instead pointing to the Louisiana Derby, which was extended to 1 3/16ths-miles for the first time this year.

“The biggest reason why we chose the Louisiana Derby over the Rebel at Oaklawn is the distance,” Cox said earlier in the week. “I think the pace is going to be a little kinder in the Louisiana Derby opposed to the race at Oaklawn (the Rebel).”

Cox was right about the pace of both races, and about his horse.

“With this spot there was more ground which we thought he would enjoy and we thought he could establish the lead here,” Cox said post-Louisiana Derby. “We did some homework on the race to see who was going to be running. You try to put together a game plan and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. In horse racing a lot of times it doesn’t, but this time it did.”

By winning the Louisiana Derby, Wells Bayou earned 100 Kentucky Derby points, and he now is the leader in the clubhouse with 104. Despite all of his recent accomplishments, which include a win the 2018 Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Monomoy Girl, Cox has never started a horse in the Kentucky Derby.

“We just have to figure out how to get him to the first Saturday in September and not May,” Cox said of Churchill Downs’ recent announcement to push back the Run for the Roses. “It is uncharted territory and we will do the best we can.”
“Now he is prepping for the first Saturday in September so it’s a long way away and many things can happen,” Geroux added. “I am just hoping he comes back healthy and we’ll just go from there.”’

Cox also has Mr. Monomoy, Monomoy Girl’s half brother who won the first division of the Risen Star last month before going to the sidelines with a minor ankle injury. Perhaps with the Kentucky Derby being pushed back to September, perhaps he can rejoin the chase.

“I thought about that,” Cox said. “With it pushed back to the fall, we definitely have an opportunity to get back into the picture (with Mr. Monomoy). We will just have to wait and see.”

Ny Traffic, third to Modernist in the second division of the Risen Star last month, earned 40 Kentucky Derby points on Saturday and he now has a total of 50, ranking him fifth in the standings. When Luis Saez took off his Saturday mounts at Fair Grounds, Joe Bravo picked up mount on the eventual Louisiana Derby runner-up.

“This horse’s first couple races you would not think he was Louisiana Derby quality,” Bravo said. “The last couple races he really stepped up to the plate and the horse is just getting good. The thing that makes him so good is that he listens. He broke great, put himself towards the front and he relaxed off the other horse (winner Wells Bayou). He turned for home and my horse did not want to give up. He ran for me down the lane and that’s all you can ask for.”
Modernist, who earned 50 Kentucky Derby points for this victory in the second division of the Risen Star, tacked on 20 more on Saturday for a total of 70.

“Junior (jockey Alvarado) said he wished he was closer (early on), but the horse had no real excuse,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who was in attendance on Saturday at Fair Grounds. “I thought he ran fine. Just hope he comes back okay and we will move forward.”

Second to Modernist in the first division of the Risen Star, Major Fed rallied from last to finish fourth in the Louisiana Derby. Unprepared at the start, he was climbing into the first turn and lost valuable ground. Four-wide, five-wide then eight wide off the second turn, he outfinished Lecomte (G3) winner and Risen Star first division runner-up Enforceable for fourth. He now has 30 Kentucky Derby points.

“He ran awesome,” said a bullish assistant trainer Travis Foley after the race. “I thought we would be fifth or sixth early on, but he got left (at the start) and I don’t know how he ended up where he did. It is kind of unexplainable as far as the trip we had. He was rolling and ran awesome. I honestly think we ran the best horse today.”

Earlier in the afternoon it was announced that in accordance with the “stay-home” order issued by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, following public health concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Grounds Race Course will suspend live racing operations effective immediately. The Fair Grounds Thoroughbred racing season was originally scheduled to run through March 29.

LOUISIANA DERBY DAY QUOTES

Wells Bayou

Brad Cox

“The plan was to give him another week,” Cox said. “This spot was more ground which we thought he would enjoy and thought he could establish the lead here. We did some homework on the race to see who was going to be running. You try to put together a game plan and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. In horse racing a lot of time it doesn’t. But this time it did. We are really happy with our assistants and everybody involved who do such an incredible job. We have a great team in place, and it showed today. We just have to figure out how to get him to the first Saturday in September and not May. It is uncharted territory and we will do the best we can.”

Florent Geroux

“He’s was great leaving the gate,” Geroux said. “He stands there perfectly and then breaks super sharp. After that when he makes the lead he relaxes very nicely. We took a few breathers around the turn and then when we turned down the lane, he didn’t lose his gear.

“Now he is prepping for the first Saturday in September so it’s a long way away and many things can happen. I am just hoping he comes back healthy and just go from there. We are going to enjoy those two very nice victories today.”

NY Traffic

Joe Bravo

“The horses first couple races you would think he was not Louisiana Derby quality,” Bravo said. “The last couple races he really stepped up to the plate and the horse is just getting good. The thing that makes him so good is that he listens. He broke great, put him in front, he relaxed off the other horse. He turned for home and my horse did not want to lay up. He ran for me down the lane and that’s all you can ask for.”

Travis Foley – Major Fed

“He ran awesome,” Travis Foley said. “I thought we would be 5th or 6th. He got left and I don’t know how he ended up where he did. It is kind of unexplainable as far as the trip we had. He was rolling and ran awesome. I think we have a really nice horse.”

Joel Rosario on Major Fed :

“He ran fine. We didn’t have much trouble. We lost a little momentum at the 3-1/2 (pole) but he finished up real well.”

Bill Mott – Modernist

“Junior said he wished he was closer but the horse had no real excuse. Thought he ran fine. Just hope he comes back okay and we will move forward.

FAIR GROUNDS OAKS

Bonny South

Brad Cox

“All I know is that I don’t think she likes to be rushed early,” Cox said. “Florent (Geroux, jockey) said she kind of went around nice and easy today. Obviously she’s a very nice filly. She was a workmate to an unbelievably nice filly we lost a couple of weeks ago. This filly has just stepped up immensely. Even when we were walking up and handing her to the pony, we were like wow she looks like she is bigger and stronger. She is getting better every day. I guess she is in the Kentucky Oaks, just have to figure out how to get to September 4th. That’s a long way off and just have to see how things play out. Very proud of her she ran a great race today. Congratulations to JuddMonte Farms. Very thankful to have her in the barn.”

Florent Geroux

“I ride her with a lot of confidence,” Geroux said. “Last time out she beat a very nice filly. Today, of course, I thought about Finite, and how she has been running well. I was just hoping she would take a step down, and we would take a step up. The Oaks is usually in about 5 weeks, but we will have to wait a little longer. Hopefully she is still running in September.”

Tempers Rising

Dallas Stewart

Julien Leparoux

“We had a good trip,” Leparoux said. “It’s what we expected anyways, to be a little far back. When I got to the quarter pole and then I got in line with the favorite I thought I had a chance to win. She ran a big race.”

Scott Blasi on Finite (beaten fav in Oaks)

“She looked good at the top of the stretch then just didn’t go on like she usually does. She wasn’t her usual self today but we will regroup with her and go forward.”

Muniz Memorial

Factor This

Brad Cox

“Big performance,” Cox said. “ It looks like he almost broke the track record. He obviously loves this track. That’s two graded stakes in a row for him. Shaun did a great job. Obviously knows him well. He ran a great race going a mile and a half at Kentucky Downs last summer. That showed us that he was a good horse. With everything going on we will probably back off a little bit and hopefully he can run later in the spring or this summer.”

Joel Rosario on Rockemperor (3rd in Muniz)

I thought we had a good trip and he ran a good race. He put in his run but the winner just got away from us on the lead. He will build off this and be better next time.”

Shaun Bridgmohan

“He ran his eyes out today,” Bridgmohan said. “Brad and everyone did a great job. I reaped the benefits, they are the ones that did all the hard work. He is a very cool horse to ride because basically you just have to sit there and let him do what he wants and he always gives you his run late.”

Don’tblamerocket

Norm Casse

Julien Leparoux

“We had a great trip,” Leparoux said. “We were right behind the winner. Everything went well for me in the stretch to try to make a run but we just couldn’t catch the winner that’s it.”

New Orleans Classic

By My Standards

Bret Calhoun

“This horse has really developed over time,” Calhoun said. “He’s going to be one of the top older horses in the country this year. He’s trained like it. This was a solid group of horses and he proved today what we have been thinking.”

“I think Silver Dust acting up in the gate kind of cost it for him today,” Calhoun continued. “He reared up at the start and was back and run up to the lead. Brian second guessed himself, said he probably should have let him go on early on instead of holding him in as much as he did. Can’t make any excuses but the gate issues probably cost us a little there.”

Gabriel Saez

“I didn’t think we would be on the front end early in the race,” Saez said. “He brought it going into the first turn. I just sat and let him drive a little bit. We kept a good pace. I knew we had enough at about the 5/16. What can I say, I am really thankful for Bret and Mr. Thomas. What a combination. I am as happy as I can be.”

Captivating Moon

Chris Block

Julien Leparoux

“He ran a good race,” Leparoux by said. “Not much space today, but my horse ran a big race. In the stretch he was traveling really nicely, he gave me his all.”

Tom Benson Memorial

She’sonthewarpath

Steve Margolis

“She is just a filly that tries so hard,” Margolis said. “Chantal (Sutherland, jockey) has a good rhythm and a good presence with her. She has that grit about her that when you go in the barn, she has that fight that you want a racehorse to have that you can’t breed into them. She just has the will to win. She has really turned out to be a nice older mare. We are just real happy with the day.”

Chantal Sutherland

“I thought I was going to be in the second lane,” Sutherland said. “She was quiet today. Quieter than normal, maybe the heat or she just waits for me to tell her what to do now. We got that nice sweet trip. I asked her to be a little close following Neil Howard’s horse. I didn’t know what he was going to do, so I went outside and when I asked her to gun it, she gunned it. I guess Joel got through the fence somewhere, but she didn’t see him, so she started to relax, but I turned her head and was screaming he was right there. I honestly didn’t know who got it. Warpath is just a star. Steve does such a good job with her and I am so grateful.”

Altea

Chad Brown

Joel Rosario

“She gave me everything,” Rosario said. “Kind of waited a little bit before they opened up. She ran hard. I thought for a second we got her. She ran the same as she did last time. She looked very good, just not lucky enough to get through.”

Costa Rising Stakes

Monte Man

Ron Faucheux

“He’s really a head bob away from winning this race three consecutive years,” Faucheux said. “He loves this turf course. We have been trying to get him in all meet. He’s just an old soldier. He just does his job and knows what he’s doing. He was doing so good going into this race. We are so proud of him; he means so much to everyone at the barn. It’s a good way to cap off the meet.”

Adam Beschizza

“It was a very forward trip,” Beschizza said. “He had a nice box seat position. We were on a fresh strip of turf. He seems to like this type of race this time of year. He was just behind last year, and the year before that he won. You can never rule him out sprinting him on the turf.”

Grand Luwegee

Gerad Perron

Corey Lanerie

“I had a decent trip,” Lanerie said. “We broke and got bumped a little bit. I got to save most of our ground around the turn. Turning for home, I tried to go inside at one point and then had another horse jump heels in front of me and I feel like that might have cost me the race because he is such a big horse and tough to get going again but he ran great.”

Crescent City Derby

Sydster

Eddie Johnston

“I thought he rated him perfectly,” Johnston said. “He wasn’t getting any pressure and he had horse left and I was happy. It’s very weird being here with no one in the stands. We went through Katrina, and now we go through this. We’ve had our catastrophes so we will survive. We are very thankful for today.”

Florent Geroux

“There was good speed today,” Geroux said. “I tried to break quick to get to the rail and have a good spot. I slowed it down and knew I was going to have horse when I pulled the trigger.

“It’s funny because it’s the biggest day of the meet here and its completely empty. Its like playing football in the Super Bowl with an empty stadium.”

Langs Day

Lee Thomas

Ty Kennedy

“Nothing really went wrong,” Kennedy said. “The two times he ran at Delta he hopped at the start once and then he broke slow. Today he broke out pretty sharp and was a little bit aggressive when he normally lays back there and gallops around, but today he was a lot more keyed up and involved. It wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to do but we were still in a good spot regardless and had an opportunity to get out and we got out at about the quarter pole to make a run and he just didn’t have the kick that he did at Delta. We stretched him out from 6 ½ to a mile 1/16. Nothing went wrong, but we learned a lot. Just not the result we were hoping for. But he will come back.”

Crescent City Oaks

Vacherie Girl

Steve Asmussen

Scott Blasi

“I think we gave her plenty of time in-between races,” assistant trainer Scott Balasy said. “She had 3 races in a short period of time. Giving her a break, freshening her up and pointing her towards this race gave us a good advantage.”

Ricardo Santana Jr.

“She broke pretty good. She put herself in a good spot. I was just being a good passenger and she brought us to victory today. She gave me a nice end.”

Quikfast N Ahurry

Steve Flint

Florent Geroux

“She felt good,” Geroux said “She got away from me the last 1/16 of a mile. She tried hard. We were just second best.”

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global
Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Seon – highlighted by the 107 th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020.as