Blue Bahia okay after scary stumble

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Emotions ran from low to high for trainer Jason Servis during the course of the day Saturday.

In the sixth race, Servis watched in horror as his Blue Bahia took a bad step, stumbled badly, and appeared to have possibly broken down while moving readily to the lead near midstretch while en route to an apparent victory in the Ladies Turf Sprint. Two hours later, Servis was in the winner’s circle following Rainbow Heir’s impressive two-length victory in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint while bearing good news about his filly.

“I rushed back to the barn after the race thinking she might have got hurt real bad at first, and she cooled out good, no problems, there wasn’t a scratch on her,” Servis said regarding Blue Bahia. “How about that filly – I mean, [jockey Paco Lopez] was loaded when she apparently stepped in a hole and stumbled. I think she was definitely going to win that race. I’ve never been beat like that before. That filly might be all right. She ran a 95 [Beyer Speed Figure] last time, and she was going to run another big number today. Both times I took Tightend Touchdown to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint I got beat by a filly, so it makes you think.”

Rainbow Heir closed his outstanding career on a high note with his victory in the Turf Sprint. The 8-year-old homebred is scheduled to go to stud in Ocala this season according to Servis.

“I think he could be a Breeders Cup horse, too,” Servis said. “I hate to see him go.”