Ways and Means romps in allowance; leaves Brown with options

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ways and Means returned to Saratoga, and returned to the winner's circle, with an 8 1/4-length allowance win that will give trainer Chad Brown decisions to make with the Klaravich Stables colorbearer.

Ways and Means was sent away favored in the $110,000 allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up, contested at a mile out of the Wilson chute on Saratoga's main track – essentially, a 1 1/2-turn configuration. After breaking a bit awkwardly, she settled nicely, ranged up three wide on the turn under Flavien Prat, took over into the stretch, and kicked clear. She finished the mile in 1:35.90 on the fast track.

"Just what I wanted to see, for her to really get some confidence and put her right back on a good path again," Brown said.

Ways and Means looked special rolling by 12 3/4 lengths in her sprint debut last summer at Saratoga, before finishing a brave second by a half-length in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at seven furlongs. She emerged from that effort with an ankle chip that shelved her. She made her season and two-turn debut in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, finishing a creditable second after an adventurous trip in the 1 1/16-mile race, as she was steadied, wide, and run down late by Power Squeeze.

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Ways and Means raced in striking distance on a sloppy, sealed track in the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles before fading late to fourth, 10 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Thorpedo Anna.

"I knew I was taking a little bit of a risk, rushing her into the Oaks a little bit," Brown said. "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, things just didnt go her way that day. I may try to stretch her out again. I also knew that if it didn't work, in my mind, I was going to re-set her for Saratoga, and that's what we did."

The appearance of this mile race in the condition book gave Brown a good distance option, as he didn't want to cut the filly back to a pure sprint at 6 or 6 1/2 furlongs, and didn't necessarily want to go two turns while building her confidence.

"Now she's on her way for some nice races," Brown said. "After a mile race, some decisions. You're either going to go farther or shorter - we have to think about that."

After this weekend, the next major event for 3-year-old fillies going two turns on the New York Racing Association circuit is the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, at 1 1/8 miles on July 20 at Saratoga. As far as sprint options, Aqueduct hosts the Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs on July 4. That division has a major summer target in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes on Aug. 3 at Saratoga, going seven furlongs.

Meanwhile, Ways and Means flattered Kentucky Oaks top three finishers Thorpedo Anna, Just F Y I, and Regulatory Risk. They get a rematch in tomorrow's Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga, along with Oaks also-rans Power Squeeze (sixth), Where's My Ring (10th), and Leslie's Rose (13th).

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