On the eve of what would likely be her final outing at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Chad Brown reflected on the career of Ways and Means. He noted that handling the mare has been especially meaningful as she is a homebred for longtime client Klaravich Stables, and he trained both her sire, multiple grade 1 winner Practical Joke and her dam, stakes winner Strong Incentive.
"She started out right here at Saratoga so brilliantly," Brown said in the Saratoga winner's circle after picking up a victory Aug 28. "She was a talked-about buzz horse since age 2, and to have her at age 5 here on the eve of the Ballerina in good position ... she's a very important horse to us, and it would mean a lot for her to win tomorrow."
Ways and Means delivered that meaningful score at her favorite track, simply waltzing to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) on the massive Aug. 29 card at Saratoga. The winner of six of her seven career outings at the historic track, she keyed a huge day for both Brown and jockey Flavien Prat. Brown sent out three other winners, including Fully Subscribed in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and Naomis in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2T). Prat was aboard both of those as he won five races on the day.
"Chad and his team, they've done amazing," Prat said of the trainer's work with this mare in a national television interview immediately postrace. "He knows how to back up and give them a break when they need it, and they come back stronger."
Ways and Means, indeed, has required patience, even as she has attained millionaire status and won five graded stakes. The filly was an exceptionally impressive 12 3/4-length debut winner in August 2023 at Saratoga, then finished a game second by a half-length in the Spinaway Stakes (G1)—an effort that became all the more impressive after it was learned she emerged with a chipped ankle, requiring her first layoff. The following spring, she attempted to stretch out, finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and then a creditable fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) off just the one prep.
Ways and Means then returned to sprinting and has remained a leader in this division. Off a prep victory in an allowance race, she won the Test Stakes (G1) in the summer of 2024, then added the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. She then hit the road and finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.
Ways and Means returned with a third-place finish in the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) in May 2025 at Churchill Downs, then won the Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. That proved to be the final start of an abbreviated campaign, as she developed an illness that forced her to miss that season's Ballerina.
She again launched her season this May in the Derby City Distaff, finishing second. Returning to her Saratoga base, she repeated in the Bed o' Roses June 5, and was fresh for the Ballerina.
But even though Ways and Means, sent off favored, was fresh, she was not overly keen for Prat, settling happily in fourth and a few lengths back down the long backstretch run of the 7-furlong race. Up front, a lively pace was developing, as Derby City Distaff winner R Disaster caught a flyer out of the gate, but was quickly confronted by longshot Maida and Echo Sound, who ran straight up from her rail draw. Maida tripped the timer in :21.91 for the opening quarter, with R Disaster in pursuit.
Ways and Means began to advance toward the leaders on the far turn, as Maida still led through the half in :44.33.
"She was traveling super," Prat said.
Turning for home, Ways and Means, clear on the outside, inhaled R Disaster, who tried to hang with her for a few strides as the other leaders began to back out of it. Prat simply showed her the stick without touching her.
"And from there, she just did it on her own," Prat said.
Indeed, Prat was little more than a passenger as Ways and Means widened as she pleased to her final margin, while not incurring a serious challenge. She stopped the clock in 1:22.05 on the fast track.
Kilwin, winner of last year's Test, rallied from last of nine to be second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Beauty Reigns, who had been eighth early, showing the toll the early pace took. Echo Sound did well to hold fourth, caught just a neck by Beauty Reigns. Echo Sound was followed by Paradise City, R Disaster, Eclatant, Maida, and Grammy Girl. Grade 1 winner Usha was a stakes scratch after trainer Bob Baffert disliked her draw toward the inside. Kappa Kappa and Munnings Express were also listed as stakes scratches.
The Ballerina was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, awarding the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Brown has confirmed that that is the long-term goal for the mare, a barn favorite who occupies a stall near his office.
"I like her with time (between starts)," Brown, who won the 2022 Ballerina with Goodnight Olive en route to the first of her two Breeders' Cup wins and championships, said earlier this week. "Keeps her fresh for the Breeders' Cup. She's one of the top horses in the division. She's battled through adversity with some physical issues, some illness, but she's still here at age 5 at the top level. ... It would be extra special and rewarding if she could cap off her career at the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland."
Brown indicated to BloodHorse earlier this week that owner Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables plans to offer Ways and Means as a broodmare prospect during the major November mixed sales in Kentucky, a common business move for many stables.
Practical Joke won the 2016 Hopeful Stakes (G1), 2016 Champagne Stakes (G1), and 2017 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) for Klarman and longtime former racing partner William Lawrence, who at one point exited the business; Klarman has since continued to campaign horses on his own with Brown.
Practical Joke, meanwhile, retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud, where he stood for $75,000 this year. Ways and Means is the top earner for her sire, and one of his 10 individual stakes winners this year, as he is currently in the top 10 on the North American general sires earnings list. The son of Into Mischief is the sire of a dozen grade 1 winners in his career to date, many of those coming in Chile, where he has shuttled successfully.
