DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2015) – California-bred Uzziel went wire to wire to score a game win in Sunday’s $200,250 Grade II Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.
Uzziel is by Harlington, out of the Lord At War mare Pretti Woman, was bred by owners James and Tammy McKenney and is trained by J. Keith Desormeaux.
“Keith told me that the way to win with her today was to just let her roll,” said jockey Kent Desormeaux, Keith’s brother. “To just come away from there and keep on going. Her demeanor today was so much better than last time. She let me ride her today; she was an angel. Other times she gets too aggressive; she wants to fight you. But today she just did it. She tries every time. You’ve got to love her for that. The only way they beat her is to be better than her. But today it was her day.”
Uzziel gave everybody a scare when she overheated after the race and Desormeaux dismounted before Uzziel reached the winner’s circle. She was vanned back to the barn, apparently uninjured.
She has six wins in 20 starts, earnings of $457,488 and was coming off a second in the Oct. 4 L.A. Woman.
Uzziel ran the mile on turf in 1:34.77 and won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 6-1 in the field of six.