Reagan's Wit (Authentic), who like his older half-sister, 2020 GII Prioress Stakes and GIII Victory Ride Stakes runner-up Reagan's Edge (Competitive Edge), races out of the Cherie DeVaux barn, got his first black-type win Saturday in Pimlico's James W. Murphy Stakes.
The gutsy chestnut settled a half-dozen lengths back early and appeared to jostle with Barbadian Runner (Barbados) before the first quarter was marked in :24.07. In the clear but still well off the pace at the :48.69 half-mile, he split horses while in tight on the turn, swapped leads a number of times down the lane, lugged in dramatically, and still pulled clear to win convincingly by 3 1/4 lengths.
“He does that when he makes the lead,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “He doesn't slow down and he didn't brush the rail. He's pretty green. I was ready for it. I knew it was coming… I'm very excited about the way he ran today. Hopefully he matures a little after this.”
A $135,000 Keeneland September purchase by West Point Thoroughbreds and namesake Reagan Ingordo–stepdaughter of DeVaux–Reagan's Wit debuted with a second at Ellis last August and was promptly sent to the sidelines for five months when he injured himself soon after in a van. When he reappeared at Fair Grounds in January, it was to the tune of an eight-length victory and an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. Second in March in Tampa's Columbia Stakes to May 3 GI American Turf Stakes winner Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), he was last seen in fourth at Keeneland in the GII Transylvania Stakes behind Test Score (Lookin At Lucky), who was second in the American Turf.
“Really pleased with him,” said DeVaux. “He's kind of a goofy horse. He showed that in the stretch. Jose [Ortiz] did a really good job keeping him to task and staying on the horse, most importantly… He has always shown a lot of ability. He's taken some time.”
The winner's dam had one reported foal following Reagan's Wit, now a 2-year-old full-sister to the James W. Murphy victor named Chasing Sunsets. She was an $80,000 RNA as a weanling at Keeneland's November sale in 2023.
⭐️ REAGAN'S WIT ($3.00) was much the best in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes at @PimlicoRC. @jose93_ortiz was aboard the Authentic (@SpendthriftFarm) colt for trainer @reredevaux. @westpointtbred pic.twitter.com/i7sfqk458J
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 17, 2025
JAMES W. MURPHY S., $100,000, Pimlico, 5-17, 3yo, 1mT, 1:40.25, gd.
1–REAGAN'S WIT, 118, c, 3, by Authentic
1st Dam: Dayienu, by Sunday Break (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Run In, by Dynaformer
3rd Dam: Savina, by Nijinsky II
($135,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-West
Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo, and CJ Stables;
B-Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux;
J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $155,883.
*1/2 to Reagan's Edge (Competitive Edge), MGSP, $182,896.
2–Soleil Volant, 118, g, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Valentine Wish,
by Lemon Drop Kid. ($25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK
TYPE. O-Jacques Dupuis, Jr., Luke Bourque, and Bobby
Sutton; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.
$20,000.
3–Twain, 118, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Camila Princess, by Animal
Kingdom. ($80,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Stonelea Stable LLC and Bonnie Rye Stable; B-Kitten's Joy
Syndicate, A R Enterprises, Inc. & High Peak Farm LLC (KY);
T-Madison F. Meyers. $10,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 2. Odds: 0.50, 6.90, 13.50.
Also Ran: Barbadian Runner, Curahee, Stormy Flight, Studlydoright. Scratched: Clock Tower, End of Romance (Ire), Mission Artemis.
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