Ocean Bear under Umberto Rispoli. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press
DEL MAR, Calif.—Favorite Ocean Bear maintains his winning ways as he rolls into a ¾ length victory in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for two-year-olds, at seven furlongs Friday At Del Mar.
The Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired two-year-olds.
Settling in fourth on the rail in the back stretch behind pace setter Sammy Davis (4-1) and Hector Berrios, Ocean Bear saved ground to the inside of the leader who had a half-length advantage with a furlong left to run. With Umberto Rispoli swinging out at the top of the stretch, Ocean Bear responded and started to cut into the margin and overtook the leader by three quarters of a length. Trained by John Sadler, third place finisher Can’t Help Myself (10-1) was unhurried early and kicked on down the lane to just miss stablemate Sammy Davis by a half-length.
“I give the credit to George (Papaprodromou). He’s done a great job with this horse. We felt from the beginning, that he was a good horse with potential and he’s improved race by race. Said Rispoli. “He was so calm and relaxed today, he was in a perfect spot all the way, and he did what he needed to do to beat Sammy Davis.”
In his debut August at Del Mar, Ocean Bear was second by 2 ½ lengths to stablemate Can’t Help Myself. Since that race Ocean Bear has been perfect in the next three starts. The Bolt d’ Oro ridgling is a homebred for Richard Barton Enterprises and has an overall record of 4-3-1-0 with $200,350 in earnings.
“He’s a nice 2-year-old. He’s improving with every race.” Said Papaprodromou.
Ocean Bear trained by George Papaprodromou paid $6.60, $4.20 and $2.80, Sammy Davis returned $5.20 and $4.00. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Can’t Help Myself paid $4.80 to show.
