Wellabled Heads Arlington-Washington Futurity

A dozen 2-year-olds are scheduled to seven furlongs on the Arlington International Racecourse Polytrack Sept. 10 in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III).

Wellabled has enjoyed an interesting start to his career. He broke his maiden at Arlington by 7 1/2 lengths at five furlongs and then shipped to Saratoga Race Course, where he ran well before being pipped on the line in the Skidmore Stakes on turf.

Star Empire makes his first trip to Chicago after winning his first two starts at Belmont Park and Presque Isle Downs. The Belmont race on dirt was more impressive than the synthetic start at Presque Isle, but the Foxwedge colt clearly has talent under trainer Wesley Ward. First-out winner Romeo O Romeo ran a fast 5 1/2 furlongs at Arlington and the son of graded winner Romance Is Diane is working well for the Futurity.

Oso Ready went gate to wire to break his maiden first time out at Ellis Park and adds more pace to this speedy lineup. St. Louie Guy has run third, second, and first at Arlington in his three outings, and won from just off the pace. Brave Benny is also a first-out Arlington winner but failed to fire in a subsequent stakes at Prairie Meadows after having trouble leaving the gate. Stand and Cheer has hit the board in all three of his starts but has been defeated by three entered in the Arlington-Washington Futurity.

Maxus went a mile to win his initial start in a maiden claiming race on the turf. He steps up, shortens up, and moves to the synthetic. Maidens En Hanse, Birdsnest Party, Ptolemy, and Seven Forty Seven, all with one race under their belts, complete the field.

Two-year-old fillies get a run in the Arlington-Washington Lassie, the race before the Futurity, at the same seven furlongs.  First-out maiden special weight winners Royalty Princess, Diadura, and Spirituality head the cast. Royalty Princess ran a very fast :58.59 for five furlongs on the Arlington turf and should be running early from the rail.