Ways and Means, Brightwork set for Spinaway showdown

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two of the most impressive performances of the meet by a 2-year-old filly were turned in on the same Aug. 6 card with Brightwork winning the Grade 3 Adirondack Stakes 3 1/2 hours after Ways and Means won a maiden race in spectacular fashion.

Fast forward four weeks and those two fillies square off in Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga.

Yes, Brightwork has the advantage of having three races – including two stakes wins – under her belt. But it’s difficult to ignore the manner in which Ways and Means cruised to her 13 1/4-length victory in hand under Flavien Prat.

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“Off a debut, for a 2-year-old dirt filly, that’s as good as I’ve had,” said Chad Brown, the four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer.

Ways and Means, a daughter of Practical Joke, sat behind four horses down the backside, tipped five wide around the turn, and then, with Prat barely moving, opened up on the field with every powerful stride. She covered six furlongs in 1:10.51 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Experience is always helpful. At least she’s got that one start under her belt,” Brown said. “It was very useful in that she broke, then she took back a little bit, and was behind horses momentarily and came around. I thought she got good experience.”

Brown likes what he’s seen from Ways and Means since that win.

“I can’t be certain if you run right back at the same meet if they’re going to bounce, or something like that, but she trains like she won’t,” Brown said.

Ways and Means breaks from post 8 under Prat.

Brightwork, who breaks with Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 9, has been terrific winning all three starts. She overcame the rail draw and a big field to win her debut going 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland by three lengths in April.

She held off a run from V.V.’s Dream to win the four-horse Debutante at Ellis Park. In the Adirondack, overcame a bobble at the break, but sat nicely behind dueling leaders before drawing clear to win by five. She ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.85 and earned an 89 Beyer.

“The instructions that afternoon were don’t take nothing away from her at the start but I wouldn’t rush her, just let her settle, and he did,” trainer John Ortiz Jr. said. “It was nice to see the filly can rate a little bit, but she’s also got very tactical speed and she’s not afraid to use it.”

John Ortiz believes his filly has continued to improve since the Adirondack, a race that produced next-out stakes winners Magic Cross, who won the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson here, and Princess Indy, who won the Sorority at Monmouth.

“This filly’s been telling us that she’s ready for everything we’ve been throwing at her,” he said. “She just seems to be only getting better and better every morning with every start and every workout. I think the sky’s the limit for her.”

Ortiz believes the experience factor will come into play Sunday.

“My filly can eyeball horses and she knows who’s in charge,” Ortiz said. It’ll be a fun race. In order to be the best you got to beat the best. I’m honored to be running at this track.”

Wonder Ride and Super Hi were solid debut winners here. Wonder Ride, a daughter of Gun Runner, split horses and outfinished Stellamaris to win by a half-length. Stellamaris came back to run second in the Seeking the Ante Stakes for New York-breds.

Kenny McPeek, the trainer of Wonder Ride, doesn’t believe his filly was fully cranked to win at first asking.

“I typically only take them over there at 80 percent, try to school them a little bit or teach them something, and she jumped through those hoops pretty easily,” McPeek said. “If she can improve a little bit from first start to second start I think our goal would be third or better.”

Julien Leparoux rides Wonder Ride from post 7.

Sugar Hi, a daughter of Twirling Candy, won the second race of the meet by six lengths on opening day for trainer Bill Mott. The six horses she defeated that day have all run back, with Honey Dijon, who finished fifth to Sugar Hi, winning an off-the-turf maiden race on Aug. 10. Two other horses finished second in their next starts.

Becky’s Joker, as a first-time starter, upset the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day before coming back to run seventh, beaten 15 1/4 lengths by Brightwork in the Adirondack.

Closing Act won the Astoria at Belmont but finished third to Becky’s Joker in the Schuylerville.

Miz Sense, scratched from the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson when she unseated her rider and got loose moments before the race, is entered right back. She is trained by Todd Pletcher, a six-time Spinaway winner.

Lady Moscato, second in all three starts, is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, also a six-time Spinaway winner, who was to turn 88 years old on Saturday.

Alys Beach and Lemorian complete the field for the Spinaway, which goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m.

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