We're in Trouble Steals Spotlight in Santa Anita Debut

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Santa Anita Park

Although all eyes were on the $2.5 million colt Metro  in the first race at Santa Anita Park March 22, it would be the $65,000 buy We're in Trouble  who stole the show.

#3 WE'RE IN TROUBLE ($8.60) breaks his maiden in the opener at Santa Anita Park. @mwmracing trains this three-year-old World of Trouble colt. Flavien Prat was in the irons. Nice selection, @ScottFDTV! pic.twitter.com/ccsWKrQnkV

— TVG (@TVG) March 22, 2024

We're in Trouble is a son of the exceptionally fast sprinter World of Trouble  , whose own accomplishments have no doubt been tarnished by the fact he was trained by convicted felon Jason Servis. After running second by a neck to Stormy Liberal as a 3-year-old in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), the Kantharos   speedster raced to five consecutive victories during his 4-year-old campaign. Unfortunately, World of Trouble's electrifying win streak came at the height of Servis' success in 2019, the same year the trainer finished first in the Kentucky Derby (G1) (only to be disqualified for interference) with Maximum Security  .

The Florida-bred World of Trouble would be retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky shortly after his scintillating Jaipur Stakes (G1T) on Belmont Day, in which he blazed six furlongs on the lawn in 1:06.37. From limited mares, World of Trouble has been represented by one crop to race, with his second hitting the track this year, and has 26 winners from 84 starters.

Running for the partnership of Colbart Stables and Richard Colvin, We're in Trouble debuted as the 3-1 third choice in his six-furlong turf debut. Metro, also lining up for his maiden voyage, was hammered down as the 8-5 post time favorite.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, who would win the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) the next day with Endlessly , We're in Trouble chased frontrunner All That Glory  through testing early fractions before reeling in that rival in the final yards. The bright chestnut prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:08.94 in a performance that earned the colt a 94 Equibase Speed Figure.

We're in Trouble is the fifth individual winner produced by his dam, the Langfuhr mare The Niagara Queen. The mare, picked up by We're in Trouble's breeder, Hedberg Hall, for only $2,500 at the 2017 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, achieved her greatest victory in the 2008 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) on the turf as a 5-year-old.