Wit Returns With G3 Bay Shore Win

Practical Joke’s graded stakes winner and dual Grade I-placed Wit (3c Practical Joke x Numero d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro) was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday with a gutsy victory in the Grade III Bay Shore Stakes.

Last seen when finishing third in the Grade I Champagne Stakes, the Todd Pletcher trainee kicked off his 3-year-old season by racing just behind the leaders in the seven furlong race. Racing on the outside of field under Jose Ortiz, Wit only had Highly Respected in front of him as they exited the turn.

It took nearly the whole stretch for Wit to get in front but get in front he did, getting his nose in front right at the line.

A $575,000 Keeneland September purchase by Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables from breeder Rosilyn Polan, those buyers are joined by Gainesway Stable in his ownership.

Mike Repole indicated that both the Grade I Woody Stephens and Allen Jerkens are on the table as future starts for the 3-year-old.

“I always say ‘think big, dream bigger.’ This is one of those moments you always dream about in having a champion sprinter,” he said.

Wit has never finished worse that third in his five career starts and was registering his third victory for $362,000 in earnings.

Wit is one of two stakes winners out of Numero d’Oro alongside Munnings’ Grade III winner and six-time stakes winner overall Barkley. His second dam is three-time stakes winner Numero Uno, who is also the dam of the stakes-placed and stakes producing Ice Lady. Another one of Numero Uno’s daughters is the dam of Grade II winner and multiple Grade I-placed Ivy Bell and 10-time winner Mannford.

Wit is one of two graded stakes winners and four stakes performers on the year for Practical Joke and one of six Northern Hemisphere stakes winners and nine stakes performers for the stallion overall to put him second in nearly every category among the second crop sires.