World of Trouble recovering from foot bruise, G3 Turf Monster possible
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ World of Trouble visited the track Sunday morning as he continues to recover from a bruised foot that forced trainer Jason Servis to scratch the multiple Grade 1 winner from Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Troy.
World of Trouble, riding a five-race win streak including the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct and Grade 1 Jaipur June 8 at Belmont Park last out, was the 3-5 program favorite for the 5 ½-furlong Troy, won in track-record fashion by Leinster [1:00.23].
“He’s better. He had a foot bruise. We tested it and he was tender, real tender. We kind of had to cut it out and it got a little more tender, nothing serious,” Servis said. “He actually went to the track today, but he’s still a little tender on that foot. It’s a shame. It was just bad timing. It showed up on Monday, and we were trying to make it.”
Servis said the Grade 3 Turf Monster for 3-yearolds and up going five furlongs September 2 at Parx, would be the next target for World of Trouble. Unbeaten in four starts this year, the 4-year-old Florida-bred opened his season by winning the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.
“We were always going to run here and then try to make the Turf Monster, so we’ll point for the Turf Monster,” Servis said. “He’s a monster. He’s a monster horse. I can’t wait to breed to him.”
Servis was also pleased with the winning effort from Michael Dubb, Coyle Boys Stable and Bethlehem Stables’ Grumps Little Tots Saturday at Saratoga. Racing for the first time since his runner-up finish in the Easy Goer June 8 at Belmont Park, the 3-year-old Sky Mesa gelding rolled by 3 ½ lengths in a nine-furlong allowance.
A maiden winner in his fourth career start Feb. 18 at Aqueduct, Grumps Little Tots was sent straight to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial April 6 where he lost all chance when pinched back at the start and finished ninth. He was put up to eighth following the disqualification of Joevia for interfering with several horses establishing a pace position from the far outside post.
“We always had high hopes for the horse,” Servis said. “He got killed in the Wood, then he came back and ran second in the stake. It’s like the old saying, ‘Keep yourself in the best of company and your horses in the worst.’ We tried to find a softer spot for him. He ran super yesterday. I talked to Mike but we haven’t even thought about [what’s next]. He’ll stay for the winter, probably, at Aqueduct.”