Uzziel scores upset in Santa Paula

ARCADIA, Calif. – Uzziel was left alone on the front in Friday’s $78,700 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita and used that advantage to record her first stakes win.

Taking an early lead was the prerace strategy discussed by jockey Tyler Baze and trainer Mike Puype, who were somewhat surprised that Uzziel was clear turning into the stretch on a track that has played very friendly to front-runners.

“I knew on the turn this was for real,” Puype said. “At that point, the race had changed without the pressure and the bias of the track.”

Uzziel ($86.20) led by a half-length on the backstretch, by 1 1/2 lengths on the turn, and won by 2 1/4 lengths over 12-1 D’yaKnowwhatimean.

Midnight Dream finished third in the field of nine, followed by Satirical, Big Break, Taste Like Candy, Larocco, Morning Fix, and L T Reckless. The Santa Paula Stakes was for 3-year-old fillies.

Taste Like Candy, second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes last December and the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes in January, was the 6-5 favorite. She was fifth early and faded in early stretch.

Uzziel set an early pace of 21.78 and 44.48 seconds and finished 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.19. Baze, who rode three winners Friday, said his confidence soared on the turn.

“I thought it was pretty much over,” Baze said.“Mike said break strong and that she doesn’t like dirt in her face. I wanted to send her out and see what the others would do. Nobody went for it.”

Uzziel is by the Unbridled stallion Harlington and races for breeders James and Tammy McKenney. A California-bred, Uzziel has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $93,310. She was fourth in the Santa Ynez Stakes and last of 13 in the minor China Doll Stakes on turf March 8.

Uzziel’s two previoius wins were over six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields on the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface – a maiden race last November and an optional claimer Jan. 31.