DEL MAR, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2025) – Favored Ocean Bear ran down Sammy Davis in midstretch to win Friday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar.
Ocean Bear is by Bolt D’oro, out of the Square Eddie mare Ocean Dream and was bred by owner Richard Barton Enterprises, which also bred Golden State Juvenile Fillies winner Mohaven earlier on the card. Ocean Bear is trained by George Papaprodromou.
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. He’s done a great job with this horse,” said Rispoli. “We felt from the beginning, that he was a good horse with potential and he’s improved race by race. 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. “Like today, even Umby’ said he didn’t care about the crowd and showed class. I think he can go longer but for now we’ll take it day by day.”
Ocean Bear, the 2-1 favorite, ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.65
