World of Trouble confirms affinity for turf in Allied Forces Stakes

World of Trouble is a good horse sprinting on dirt. He might be better sprinting on turf.

Last month at Saratoga, World of Trouble won his grass debut when he captured the Quick Call Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths, and he’s now 2 for 2 on the surface after crushing five foes Saturday at Belmont Park in the $100,000 Allied Forces Stakes.

World of Trouble and jockey Manny Franco sat second early and let Weather Report tow them through a quarter-mile in 21.93 seconds and a half in 45.33, but by the time that second split had been laid down, World of Trouble was laying down the lumber. He swooped past Weather Report at the head of the homestretch, Franco cropped him twice right-handed and one more time lefty, and that was that. World of Trouble, widening through the final half-furlong, crossed the finish 5 3/4 lengths in front of his nearest pursuer, stopping the timer in 1:09.71 over a course rated good.

Dirty finished second and had more than 12 lengths on third-place Reed Kan. World of Trouble, the heavy favorite, paid $3.90 to win and received a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jason Servis trains World of Trouble for Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables, though it was Dubb who bought World of Trouble privately after he flashed elite potential last year at age 2. World of Trouble, by Kantharos out of Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations, won the Pasco Stakes on dirt to start his 3-year-old campaign by almost 14 lengths but following a fourth-place finish June 9 in the Woody Stephens, World of Trouble was switched to turf – to excellent effect so far.