2019 Eclipse Awards: World of Trouble

The only thing that stopped World of Trouble during his 2019 campaign was a troublesome foot injury.

Before he was taken out of training over the summer, World of Trouble proved unbeatable in sprint races over a range of surfaces. He won a sloppy-track sprint stakes at Gulfstream in January before capturing the Grade 1 Carter over seven furlongs on a fast dirt track in April. Neither dirt nor seven furlongs is ideal for World of Trouble, whose best trip is six furlongs or fewer on turf, which he showed in May, easily winning the Grade 2 Turf Sprint Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

World of Trouble’s best race of the year also was his last race of the year, the Grade 1 Jaipur, a six-furlong grass dash on the Belmont Stakes undercard that’s the second-most import turf sprint of the North American season behind the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. In the Jaipur, World of Trouble displayed the attributes that have made him one of the top North American sprinters over the last two seasons and a 2019 Eclipse Award finalist in two categories, Sprinter and Older Male Turf horse. World of Trouble has breathtaking speed, but he’s one of those rare specimens who can fly without appearing even to exert himself. In the Jaipur, he burst to the front under Manny Franco, shaded 44 seconds for a half-mile, and still had a serious stretch burst to win by nearly two lengths. Om, who would finish second in the BC Turf Sprint, was a rallying second, and Disco Partner, an absolute terror going six furlongs on turf at Belmont, finished third. Belvoir Bay, who would win the BC Turf Sprint, chased World of Trouble before fading to fourth.

“Man, what a horse,” trainer Jason Servis said after the Jaipur.

Servis took over World of Trouble’s training from Kathleen O’Connell after Michael Dubb purchased him privately late in 2017. Dubb later sold shares of the horse to Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, and the owners had a great ride during 2018, when World of Trouble just missed winning the BC Sprint. By Kantharos out of Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations, World of Trouble was bred in Florida and turned out to have world-class speed. His fleetness carried him to a perfect if abbreviated 2019 campaign. He’ll easily be out-polled in Eclipse balloting by Bricks and Mortar in the Older Male Turf division and Mitole in the Sprint division, but World of Trouble’s presence as a finalist in both categories shows what a special season he had.