Wellabled may stretch out for Bourbon Stakes

Wellabled, a 7 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity last weekend, is likely to make his next start in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, trainer Larry Rivelli said.

Wellabled, by Shackleford, came out of the race well, according to his trainer. Geared down late, Wellabled got a career-best 88 Beyer for his win in the seven-furlong Futurity.

Rivelli said the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial, a 6 1/2-furlong race over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs, also had been considered for Wellabled, but that the Bourbon was the leading choice for the colt’s next start. Wellabled has raced three times, all in sprints, and has shown brilliant speed that he will try to carry around two turns next time.

“We want to explore the two turns at some point, and there’s no better time than the present, I guess,” Rivelli said.

Wellabled is 2 for 2 on Polytrack and finished second in the Skidmore, a turf sprint, at Saratoga. Rivelli had planned to race him in the Saratoga Special on dirt there before Wellabled struggled in a workout over the Saratoga main track. Wellabled is long-bodied and long-legged and is by a horse that won the Preakness Stakes over 9 1/2 furlongs, but it remains to be seen if he can race as effectively in a route as in sprints.