World of Trouble wins turf debut in Quick Call

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – World of Trouble transferred his speed – and his talent – from the dirt to the turf Wednesday, leading every step of the way to win the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.

Fig Jelly rallied from midpack to get second by a neck over Dirty, giving trainer Jason Servis and owner Michael Dubb a 1-2 finish in the listed stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters.

Totally Boss finished fourth and was followed, in order, by Stolen Pistol, New Legend, Coltandmississippi, Like What I See, Majestic Dunhill, Shangroyal, A Different Style, and Clouded Judgement.

World of Trouble, a son of Kantharos, had raced exclusively on dirt in his first five starts, winning the Pasco Stakes by 13 3/4 lengths at Tampa Bay Downs in January.

World of Trouble was entered in the Grade 3, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes on dirt here on July 28, but was scratched after developing a temperature the day before the race.

When Dubb mentioned to Servis about running in the Quick Call, Dubb said Servis was thrilled.

“He said, ‘I’ve always wanted to try the turf, we don’t know what we’re going to have here on turf,’ “Dubb said. “He strongly believed there was turf breeding in the family, that the horse would turf. We wanted to find out, so I think we did today.”

Breaking from the rail, Irad Ortiz Jr. put World of Trouble on the lead and he went in splits of 22.58 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.03 seconds for the half over ground labeled good. Dirty, under Jose Ortiz, was stalking World of Trouble from second.

At the top of the lane, World of Trouble “rebroke” according to Irad Ortiz and kept running to get the victory, his third from six starts.

World of Trouble, who also counts as his owners Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso’s Bethlehem Stables, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.11 and returned $5.40 as the 8-5 favorite.

“I think he liked the turf,” Ortiz said. “It’s really soft, but he was going fine. I think he’ll improve on firm.”

Dubb said when he discussed the Quick Call with Servis, the trainer reminded him that the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint this year is run at 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs.

“That’s what went through Jason’s mind – like, what if this horse really turfs? And so it’s really a credit to Jason, the way he trains the horses, the way he thinks,” Dubb said. “His ability with turf sprinters is well documented and on display again today.”