HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Brilliant in a debut victory and brave in a Grade 1 defeat at Saratoga, Ways and Means had the look of a special filly last summer. Away from the races due to an injury suffered in the Grade 1 Spinaway last September, Ways and Means kicks off her 3-year-old campaign Saturday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The Gulfstream Oaks, which drew a field of nine, offers 200 qualifying points to the May 3 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Ways and Means, a daughter of Practical Joke trained by Chad Brown, won her debut by 12 3/4 lengths on Aug. 6. Sent off the 2-5 favorite in the Spinaway against the multiple stakes winner Brightwork, Ways and Means was a bit headstrong out of the gate, rushed up, and clipped heels with Brightwork about an eighth of a mile into the seven-furlong race. Kept wide throughout, Ways and Means fought on through the lane but finished a half-length shy of Brightwork, who was winning her fourth consecutive race. Ways and Means came out of the race with a chipped ankle. Brown called it “remarkable” that she was able to finish second. Ways and Means got back on the work tab Feb. 4 and has been breezing weekly leading to her return. “She came to hand a tick quicker than I anticipated, which was great,” Brown said. “She sort of took us to this race. It’s definitely a tall order to run two turns for the first time off a layoff and coming off an injury, but she’s training brilliantly and I want to give her a solid chance to get to the [Kentucky] Oaks because I do feel she’s one of the better fillies in the crop on dirt.” :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Ways and Means, owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, breaks from post 4 under Irad Ortiz Jr. in this nine-horse field. Gun Song, a daughter of Gun Runner trained by Mark Hennig for Lee Lewis, enters the Gulfstream Oaks off a powerful 5 3/4-length victory in a first-level allowance here Feb 9. It was her second win from four starts. Hennig said Gun Song has benefited mentally from racing and also has improved with the addition of blinkers two starts back. Hennig is looking forward to stretching her out around two turns for the first time. “The light bulb really came on for her the last race,” Hennig said. “The addition of blinkers helped. A little more distance gives her a chance to gather herself. I think she’ll like two turns.” John Velazquez rides Gun Song from post 6. Fiona’s Magic defeated Into Champagne by a head in the Grade 2 Davona Dale going a one-turn mile here March 2. The Gulfstream Oaks will be the first try around two turns for both fillies. Fiona’s Magic, a daughter of St Patrick’s Day trained by Michael Yates for Stonehedge LLC, has been a front-running factor in her last four starts, three of which she won including the Davona Dale. “We’re confident she can do it,” Yates said about running two turns. “The race obviously sets up different and it’s certainly a question mark, but we’re looking forward to giving it a try.” Jorge Ruiz rides Fiona’s Magic from post 8. Into Champagne had a relatively easy time winning her maiden at Ellis Park last summer and the Glitter Woman Stakes here in January. The Davona Dale was the first time Into Champagne had to really run, according to trainer Ian Wilkes. “I thought it was a good effort, it was the first time she had to belly down and run down the lane,” Wilkes said. “She had to dig in and run and the other filly just beat us, but I really feel my filly’s improved since that race. I feel good about her and I look forward to this race.” Julien Leparoux rides from post 5. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Power Squeeze, trained by Jorge Delgado, has won three straight, including the Cash Run going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream and the Suncoast going a mile and 40 yards around two turns at Tampa. Power Squeeze breaks from the rail under Daniel Centeno. Scalable, runner-up in the Grade 2 Chandelier last fall at Santa Anita, has a maiden win and a fourth in the Forward Gal in two starts this meet. Trainer Todd Pletcher expects an improved effort off that race. Jose Ortiz rides from post 9. Do Gooder, Neom City, and America’s Vow complete the field for the Gulfstream Oaks, which goes as race 11 on the 14-race program. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.