Tempera takes Sorrento

DEL MAR, Calif. - Even for an optimistic trainer, Tempera's nine-length win in Saturday's $150,000 Sorrento Stakes was a surprise for Eoin Harty.

"I thought she'd win, but I didn't think she'd win like that,"he said.

"I hate to sound braggish, but I felt confident."

Tempera gave Harty his first stakes win. In 2000, he became a private trainer for the Maktoum family's Godolphin Racing, operating a 2-year-old division in the United States.

Given an ideal trip by jockey David Flores, Tempera ($3.60) stalked pacesetter Georgia's Storm to the quarter-pole, took the lead turning for home and drew off under a hand ride. She finished 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:16.13 and stamped her ticket to the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 26.

Respectful, a maiden, finished second, a length in front of Roaring Blaze.

Georgia's Storm, who won the Cinderella Stakes and Grade 3 Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park, faded badly in the final furlong to finish fourth in the field of eight 2-year-old fillies.

"She finally threw in a stinker," trainer Eduardo Inda said.

The Sorrento was Tempera's stakes debut. Her long-term goal is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont Park on Oct. 27.

"If I can keep her head together, she'll do the rest for me," Harty said.

"She's got a ton of gas."

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