Wellabled coasts in A-W Futurity but doubtful to try dirt

Wellabled, from the first crop of classic winner and triple Grade 1 winner Shackleford, streaked to a 7 3/4-length win in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington on Saturday, pushing his lifetime mark to two-for-three for owner Carolyn Wilson and trainer Larry Rivelli.

The original seven-furlong time posted was 1:21.72, which would have been all-time stakes record eclipsing Candy Spots' 1962 mark of 1:21.80. However, the time was later amended to 1:24.70.

Nonetheless, Wellabled appears to have a bright future. Ironically, it's unlikely to be on dirt despite his relationship to Shackleford, who captured the Preakness, Met Mile (G1), and Clark H. (G1).

A debut winner at Arlington by 7 1/2 lengths going five furlongs July 9, Wellabled was then sent to Saratoga by Rivelli, who soon discovered Wellabled was not a fan of the dirt.

“The sky’s the limit for this horse,” Rivelli said. “I’m not so sure about other surfaces, I took him to Saratoga and worked him on the dirt a couple of times and he didn’t seem to like it, that’s why I chose to run him on the turf. His breeding suggests he’ll run long.”

The race Rivelli referred to was the $100,000 Skidmore going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course August 19. Wellabled led for all by the final jumps, losing by a head to Harlan's Harmony as the favorite.

On Saturday, Wellabled pushed his career earnings to $96,200, and returning $5 to his backers. E.T. Baird was the winning jockey.

Bred by PTS Ranch in Kentucky, Wellabled was a $340,000 OBS April two-year-old in training purchase. He's out of Expressive Diva, an In Excess half-sister to San Juan Capistrano (G1) winner Ringaskiddy.