World of Trouble a Grade 1 hero on turf, dirt with Jaipur win

World of Trouble blazed Saturday at Belmont Park to a Grade 1 victory in the $400,000 Jaipur Invitational, which awarded the 4-year-old colt a "Win and You're In" shot at doing one better in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Jockey Manny Franco rode the Jason Servis trainee to six furlongs in a racehorse time of 1:06.37 on Belmont turf, second-fastest in the stakes' history.

Since a narrow Breeders' Cup defeat to Stormy Liberal at Churchill Downs, World of Trouble has now won five straight. He earned his first Grade 1 on dirt in Aqudeuct’s Carter Handicap (G1), then took Churchill’s Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) and now in the Jaipur Invitational.

"I'm looking forward to training some of his offspring," Servis said. "...If I had a mare, I think I'd want to breed to him with that speed. At 2-year-old sales and stuff, you'd have to think he'd throw those fast babies."

The victory was a relief for the trainer, who last month saw his 3-year-old Maximum Security disqualified after finishing first in the Kentucky Derby.

“You’re always nervous in this business – hence the Kentucky Derby,” Servis said. “But (World of Trouble) leaves it out there every time, whether it’s turf, dirt, mud. He’s just a really good horse.”

World of Trouble paid $2.80 on Saturday to win. He set speedy fractions of 21:99, 43.85 and 54.80 before crossing the line in 1:06.37, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Om. Two-time Jaipur winner Disco Partner in third. 

What could come next?

"I'll talk to Mike," Servis said of Michael Dubb, who campaigns with Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables.

"Whatever the boss says," Dubb responded.

Stay tuned.