Its Gonna Hurt earns BC Juvenile Turf Sprint berth

ARCADIA, Calif. - Its Gonna Hurt, a maiden claimer at Del Mar, won his turf and stakes debut in Saturday’s $100,345 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Its Gonna Hurt ($18.60) led throughout from an inside draw in a field of six. Its Gonna Hurt set a scorching pace of 21.22 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.05 for a half-mile, before prevailing by three-quarters of a length over 10-1 Whooping Jay.

Its Gonna Hurt had a half-length advantage early and led by more than a length on the turn.

“He dragged him to the lead,” trainer Brian Koriner said.

Mae Never No, the 6-5 favorite and the lone filly in the field, was well placed on the turn in second but could not keep pace with Its Gonna Hurt, who finished in 56 seconds, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 71.

Midnight Mystery finished fourth, followed by Hartel and Principe Carlo. Owning was withdrawn on Saturday morning because of illness, trainer Simon Callaghan said in a text message.

Its Gonna Hurt, by Violence, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $81,945. The colt was purchased for $80,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in April and races for Janet Lyons and Andrew, Evan, and Matthew Trommer.

The Speakeasy Stakes was run in past years at six furlongs on dirt, but was switched to turf this year after the Breeders’ Cup announced the creation of the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint.