World of Trouble splashes home in Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint
Going off the turf was no problem for World of Trouble, who sailed home to win Saturday’s $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes over
a sloppy, sealed track. The Florida-bred colt has shown versatility for
sprinting on multiple surfaces and was geared down by jockey Irad Ortiz
Jr. in the final strides.
“The horse is just awesome,” said Michael Dubb, who owns World of Trouble in
partnership with Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC. “Turf, slop,
dirt, it doesn’t make a difference. This horse just has running on its mind.”
Slated to get a rematch with Stormy Liberal, who he lost
to by a neck in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, World of Trouble instead faced just four rivals after rain on Pegasus World Cup day led to a bevy of scratches.
While the slop proved no trouble for the winner, he gave trainer Jason Servis other things to worry about.
“We couldn’t get
bandages on him behind. I mean the whole thing coming to the race, I really
wasn’t thrilled about,” Servis said. “And he was just doing OK. So getting it
done, man, was gratifying. He ran on no toe grabs. I was happy with the mud,
but he’s not an easy horse to deal with. We had a hard time getting the bridle
on him, and the back bandages.”
Recruiting Ready challenged World of Trouble early, but the latter had the
advantage with his rail position. Singandcryindubai and Little Chesney were a
couple lengths back together, while Belle Tapisserie trailed early. World of
Trouble led opening fractions in 22.18 and 44.37, then left Recruiting Ready
behind to complete the five furlongs in 56.44.
“He’s a nice horse,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He broke well so I just tried to hold it together. When I asked him to go he just exploded. Jason let me ride him the way I wanted. I’ve been on him a few times now, so our confidence is high.”
Recruiting Ready stayed on for second over a rallying Belle Tapisserie, Singandcryindubai and Little Chesney.
World of Trouble was 2 ¾ lengths ahead at the wire as the 1-5 favorite. Dubb added connections will look to the trainer for the next race spot.
“I leave that to Jason Servis. He’s managed this horse impeccably,” Dubb said. “It’s great to have options like this, and there are a lot of options out there. We’ll discuss it, and ultimately I’ll let Jason tell me.”
Servis added Keeneland and another trip to New York could be on the radar.
The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was the sixth win in 10 career starts for World of Trouble, who has finished off the board only once in his career. The 4-year-old son of Kantharos, bred by Darsan Inc., was a $10,000 RNA in the August 2016 Ocala Breeders’ Sale as a yearling. His earnings now total $671,400.
World of Trouble was a 13 ¾-length winner of Tampa Bay Downs’ Pasco Stakes a year ago and stretched out to third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). He found a knack for turf sprints during the summer in New York when he won Saratoga’s Quick Call Stakes and Belmont Park’s Allied Forces Stakes ahead of the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs.
He wrapped up 2018 by returning to Tampa’s dirt and won the FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes by 13 ¾ lengths over a sloppy track.
“This is why we’re in the game: to have horses like this on days like this,” Dubb said in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle. “I’m just over the moon.”