Uzziel would be no surprise in Beverly Lewis
Uzziel has nearly completed a tour of California’s leading tracks this year. She won an optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields in January and the Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita in April, and was third in the Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 8.
On Saturday, Uzziel makes her Los Alamitos debut in the $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs. She will try to win her second stakes and the fourth race of her career.
“Her form is good,” trainer Mike Puype said. “This race is logical.”
Owned by breeders James and Tammy McKenney, Uzziel was a surprise winner of the Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs, leading throughout at 42-1. She was rested through the summer and finished third against older fillies and mares in the Daisycutter over five furlongs.
“She had a good race,” Puype said. “She wasn’t quite ready.”
Uzziel is part of a field of eight in the Lewis, one of two stakes on Saturday’s Los Alamitos program. The other stakes is the $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile.
:: Los Alamitos Mile: Get PPs, watch Saturday's card live
Uzziel is one of three stakes winners in the Lewis, along with Delta Flower, who won the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita in May, and Ramona’s Wildcat, who won the El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park in January.
KEY CONTENDERS
Uzziel (Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-71)
◗ Uzziel has raced on or near the pace in most of her starts and was third for the first quarter-mile of the Daisycutter.
“She doesn’t need the lead,” Puype said. “The other day, she was off the pace, and she tried.”
Delta Flower (Last 3 Beyers: 81-85-67)
◗ A quick filly, Delta Flower led throughout the Angels Flight Stakes over seven furlongs.
◗ She was fourth in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 21, her first start around two turns and her most recent outing.
◗ In the Summertime Oaks, Delta Flower was beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Jojo Warrior, who returned to win the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 31.
Classy Ava (Last 3 Beyers: 76-51-85)
◗ Trained by Peter Eurton, Classy Ava makes her stakes debut.
◗ She finished fourth after a troubled start in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on June 26 and ran a much brighter race when third against older fillies and mares in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 9, racing near the lead to the final furlong.