Ways and Means back to winning ways (Susie Raisher)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Klaravich Stables’ Grade 1-placed homebred sophomore filly Ways and Means made a sparkling return to Saratoga Race Course, taking a Thursday allowance against older fillies and mares by 8 1/4-lengths traveling one-mile out of the Wilson Chute.
Trained by Chad Brown, the Practical Joke bay exited post 6-of-8 under Flavien Prat, breaking awkwardly and losing her footing while jostling with a foe before settling outside rivals. She ranged into contention three-wide on the final turn and took command under a hand-ride en route to a facile score in a final time of 1:35.90.
Brown said after the race he was pleased with the effort from Ways and Means, who was making her first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks over sloppy and sealed footing on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
“It was nice. She was bouncing around at the start – her own doing – she didn’t come out straight, but Flavien got her quickly in a good position,” Brown said. “It was just what I wanted to see – a good race through the finish, and really get some confidence and put her back on a good path again.”
Ways and Means made her first two starts at the Spa, graduating on debut in August by 12 3/4-lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight. She followed with a troubled second in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway on September 3, finishing a half-length back of the victorious Brightwork. There, she broke a step slow and had to steady slightly as she attempted to maneuver to the outside, clipping heels with Brightwork inside the three-quarter pole and lost a touch of ground. She traveled wide into the stretch run and fought gamely with Brightwork, but could not get by.
Ways and Means returned in March with a runner-up effort to Power Squeeze in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks ahead of her Kentucky Oaks effort where the Brown-trainee was steadied, wide and collared late.
Brown said Thursday’s effort was an important confidence booster for the lightly-raced but talented filly.
“[Confidence] is very important. Especially with a horse you think this highly of and have big plans for,” Brown said. “I knew I took a bit of a risk rushing her into the Oaks, but I thought she was really good enough. I don’t believe it was the distance. I think it was the sloppy track and such and things just didn’t go her way that day.”
Brown now has the option of stretching the filly out for upcoming Grade 1 Spa races such as the nine-furlong $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20 and the 10-furlong $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales on August 17, or turning back slightly for the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster going seven-furlongs on August 3.
“After a mile race, there are some decisions – you’re either going to go further or shorter. There’s not going to be races like this, so I have to think about that,” Brown said.
Ways and Means, out of the stakes-winning Ontario-bred Warrior’s Reward mare Strong Incentive, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Surge Capacity and graded stakes-winner Highly Motivated. Both Surge Capacity and Highly Motivated are Klaravich Stables homebreds trained by Brown.
