Uuzzii, piloted y Ali Rivera, wins the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes [RG2] on Saturday at Evangeline Downs

© Hodges Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–DECEMBER 21, 2024–Jockey Ali Rivera piloted the juvenile gelding Uuzzii to his first career stakes victory of Saturday night in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes [RG2] at Evangeline Downs.

Starting from the five hole, Uuzzie broke first out of the gates and kept the lead to the wire for a 1/2-length victory over post-time favorite Paint Me Onis. The brown gelding clocked a 90-speed index with a six mph tailwind in 17.786 seconds. The 350-yard effort paid $9.20 to win on 7-2 odds.

Paint Me Onis, ridden by champion jockey James Flores, was bumped at the start but made a late gain for second. Runnning With Faith, with Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. in the irons, placed third a neck behind.

Uuzzie started his season at Louisiana Downs, breaking his maiden in the Mardi Gras Futurity [G2] trials. He returned to the finals for a second-place finish. He won his last out in August at the Fair Grounds in the Big Easy Futurity trials but did not qualify for the finals.

Tonight's victory is Uuzzii's first in stakes competition and third from six starts. The $45,455 winner's share of the purse increased his earnings to $132,950.

Bred by Darrell Williams, Uuzie was a $23,500 repurchase in the 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale. Trainer Adrian Huitron conditions the son of Freighttrain B for his current owner, 2 Kings Racing, LLC. He is out of the One Sweet Jess mare Bp One Sweet Policy, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Bp Cartel Policy, Bp Valiant Policy and Eagles Policy.

Runner-up Paint Me Onis has four wins from eight starts with $59,611 in the bank. The son of Paint Me Perry was a finalist in the Laddie Futurity [G2] and De Saix Stakes earlier this season.

Joseph Manucy saddled Paint Me Onis owner Harry Stratton. Scott Jeane bred the sorrel gelding out of Rl Toni Lynn by Heza Fast Dash.

Third-place finisher Runnning With Faith has yet to break her maiden from nine starts. The daughter of You Drive I Fly placed second in the Grade 1 LQHBA Sale Futurity in September.

Kenneth Weeks trains Runnning With Faith for owners Raymond Loup and Lester Colomb Jr. Jumonville Farms bred the $17,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate out of Elly Mae by Fishers Dash.

Wish U Were Whiskey, Rf Imperial Choice, Torpedo, San Lorenzo Firulais, Mbc Mr Booz and Ivan White Dash round out the order of finish.

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About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one-mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space, including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.

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