Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Ways and Means to remain in training for 2027
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Ways and Means, the presumptive champion female sprinter of 2026, will return to racing in 2027, her new connections announced Friday.
Boyd Racing, the racing and breeding operation of Randy and Jenny Boyd, purchased Ways and Means for $5 million at the Fasig-Tipton “Night of Stars” sale on Nov. 2, just two days after the mare won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland by 6 1/4 lengths, her third victory from four starts this year and one that should earn her an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter.
Ways and Means, a 5-year-old daughter of Practical Joke out of the stakes-winning mare Strong Incentive, was trained by Chad Brown for owner/breeder Seth Klarman. Ways and Means will remain with Brown.
“Jenny and I are really excited to see her back on the track for another year with Chad,” Randy Boyd said in a press release. “And, who knows, maybe she’ll come back and win the Breeders’ Cup a second time!”
Brown has won the BC Filly and Mare Sprint four times including in back-to-back years (2022-23) with Goodnight Olive.
Ways and Means will eventually be added to a growing list of high-quality mares already in the Boyd’s broodmare band, a stable that includes 2025 BC Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora, as well as Grade 1 winners Vahva and Seismic Beauty.
Brown, who has not previously trained for the Boyds, said he was impressed with the couple when he met with them recently and looks forward to working with them and campaigning Ways and Means in 2027.
“They’re very excited about owning her and what the future holds for her both to run one more year and to be one of the centerpieces of their elite and boutique broodmare band,” Brown said. “I’m happy that she ended up with some very deserving owners; they seem very excited to have her which makes me feel good. The situation seems right.”
It’s unclear when Ways and Means would return to racing, but one thing’s for certain, the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in late August will definitely be on her agenda. Ways and Means is 6 for 7 at Saratoga, having won this year’s Ballerina, as well as the Grade 1 Test in 2024.
To date, Ways and Means has compiled a record of 8-3-1 from 14 starts and has earned $2,157,500.
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