World of Trouble Targets Turf Monster at Parx

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' World of Trouble visited the track at Saratoga Race Course the morning of Aug. 4 as he continues to recover from a bruised foot that forced trainer Jason Servis to scratch the multiple grade 1 winner from the New York oval's Troy Stakes (G3T) the day before.

World of Trouble, riding a five-race win streak including the April 6 Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack and June 8 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park last out, was the 3-5 program favorite for the 5 1/2-furlong Troy, which saw Amy Dunne's Leinster set a track record in 1:00.23.

"He's better. He had a foot bruise. We tested it and he was tender, real tender," Servis said. "We kind of had to cut it out, and it got a little more tender, nothing serious.

"He actually went to the track today, but he's still a little tender on that foot. It's a shame. It was just bad timing. It showed up on Monday, and we were trying to make it."

Servis said the Sept. 2 Turf Monster Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up going five furlongs at Parx Racing would be the next target for World of Trouble. Unbeaten in four starts this year, the 4-year-old Florida-bred opened his season by winning an off-the-turf version of the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes.

"We were always going to run here and then try to make the Turf Monster, so we'll point for the Turf Monster," Servis said. "He's a monster. He's a monster horse. I can't wait to breed to him."

Stud plans for World of Trouble were announced June 12. The Kantharos  colt will begin his breeding career at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2021, where his sire also stands.

Leinster Aims for Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint

Leinster emerged from his successful graded stakes debut in Saturday's Troy in good order, trainer Rusty Arnold said Sunday. After his record-breaking performance on the Mellon turf course, the 4-year-old Majestic Warrior colt will now target another graded stakes win in the Sept. 7 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3T).

Leinster, a half brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Stormy Liberal, won his two turf sprint starts leading into the Troy. He began his racing career with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas but was never able to find the winner's circle in 11 starts over the main track. He finally broke his maiden at 14th asking when stepping up against allowance company over the turf at Keeneland in his third start for Arnold.

"He's in good shape," Arnold said. "The people that owned him wanted to sprint him on grass. They asked to do it. When we cut him back sprinting on grass, he's run well."

The victory built on a highly successful weekend for Arnold, who saddled Concrete Rose to a win in Saturday's Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes. 

Bred in Kentucky by Gryphon Investments, Leinster was an $85,000 purchase from Four Star Sales' consignment to The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Kentucky, in 2016. He is out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar who, in addition to Stormy Liberal, produced grade 1-placed Coast Guard.