El Huerfano proves adept sprinting on dirt in Golden Bear

El Huerfano turned what was basically a prep race into an impressive victory in his stakes debut with a strong rally to win the $62,300 Golden Bear Stakes at the California State Fair in Sacramento on Saturday.

Content to sit back early under Pedro Terrero, El Huerfano ($18.20) circled five wide while rallying into the stretch in the compact field of 3-year-olds. There were four horses across the track in what looked like a Quarter Horse race before El Huerfano edged clear late, defeating Holdthismiss by three-quarters of a length while winning the six-furlong stakes in 1:08.87. The favored Mr. Jay D was another one-half length back. The morning-line favorite, Richard's Boy, was scratched.

El Huerfano, owned and bred by M.A. Douzos and trained by Gil Matos, was making only his second start of the year following a seven-month layoff. He was fourth on turf in his comeback on June 14 at Golden Gate Fields and is being pointed to the 1 1/16-mile Robert Dupret Derby on turf at Santa Rosa on Aug. 8.

Saturday’s Golden Bear on dirt was a prep for the Dupret.

"We didn't want to go two months,” said Matos. "We figured to run him here to prepare, but he can sprint.

"I told the rider to sit behind the speed and save him for the lane."

Matos said he and Douzos gave El Huerfano plenty of time after he came down with a minor problem following a turf win last November. He said the talented colt will be fresh for the second half of the year.

El Huerfano, a son of Tannersmyman, earned $39,000 for his third career victory in five starts and now has career earnings of $64,686.