Reagan’s Flame continued her outstanding synthetic season Friday night, winning the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters at Presque Isle Downs on September 18.
The five year old mare, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Edgard Zayas, defeated Paris Carver in the $300,000 feature. Les Reys finished third and Sea Runner was fourth. Paradise City was scratched, leaving eight starters.
Reagan’s Flame confirms her Tapeta strength
The result extended a productive 2026 campaign built around synthetic racing. Reagan’s Flame entered the Masters after victories in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes and Grade 3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine. Her success at Presque Isle added a Grade 2 victory to that record and confirmed that her form has transferred across different Tapeta tracks.
She started as the favorite after bettors backed the same surface profile that made her the central horse in OTB Bet’s Presque Isle Downs Masters preview.
Paris Carver outruns her price
Paris Carver produced the strongest challenge and finished second for trainer Jorge Delgado and jockey Paco Lopez. Les Reys, trained by Miguel Clement and ridden by Axel Concepcion, completed the first three.
The Masters was contested at six and one half furlongs on the Presque Isle synthetic surface. Reagan’s Flame earned $189,000 from the $300,000 purse.
Championship season comes into focus
The Masters has an established connection with the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Past Masters winners Groupie Doll and Informed Decision also won the Breeders’ Cup event during their careers.
Reagan’s Flame’s victory therefore adds another meaningful late season result as the female sprint division moves toward the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. Any future target will depend on her connections, and OTB Bet will update the picture when plans are confirmed.
The result also closed the first half of a major Pennsylvania racing weekend. Parx Racing takes center stage Saturday with the Pennsylvania Derby, Cotillion Stakes and Gallant Bob Stakes.
Sources
Result and finishing order were verified against BloodHorse and published race results before publication.
BloodHorse, Reagan’s Flame Sizzles in Taking Masters
Sporting Life, Presque Isle Downs Masters result
Featured image is illustrative. Photo by Mathew Schwartz via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License.
