Ways and Means repeats in G2 Bed o’ Roses presented by Boldyn Networks with thrilling rally
Klaravich Stables’ Ways and Means needed a thrilling finish to secure a repeat victory in Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o’ Roses presented by Boldyn Networks, running down pacesetter Grand Job in the final jumps to post a nose win in the seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares on Day Three of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
Ways and Means, who posted a 7 3/4-length score in last year’s edition, has now won both editions of the Bed o’ Roses contested at the Spa while the new Belmont Park is constructed. Her effort gave five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown his fourth consecutive win in the race and sixth in the last eight runnings, joining Accede [2024], Goodnight Olive [2023], Separationofpowers [2019] and Lewis Bay [2018].
But a return winner’s circle trip was far from assured in the 69th running of the Bed o’ Roses, as Grand Job surged to the front under jockey Junior Alvarado to lead the six-horse field through quick fractions of 22.07 seconds for the opening-quarter mile, 43.97 for the half and three-quarters in 1:07.69 over the fast track, with Ways and Means forwardly placed under Flavien Prat tracking in second position.
The duo separated themselves from the field coming out of the turn, with Grand Job maintaining position to the inside. The 5-year-old Grand Job, conditioned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, stayed in command approaching the sixteenth pole.
But Ways and Means showed the form that made her an early contender for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in October at Keeneland, responding to Prat’s right-handed encouragement to find another gear. She made up ground with each stride to Grand Job’s outside before finally getting the advantage just as she hit the wire in 1:21.05.
Grand Job settled for second, 9 1/2 lengths clear of fellow Brown trainee Senza Parole, with Scalable, Vincey Girl and Praying completing the order of finish.
“I thought the pace was hot,” Prat said. “I just got outrun the first part. I was hoping that at some point the leader would come back to me. We turned for home, honestly, at that point it looked like Junior's filly was still going very well, so at that point I thought I was going to run second and just push the other one away. I was making a steady run, and luckily the leader kind of fell the last fifty yards. My filly was brave enough."
Ways and Means, the 3-5 favorite, returned $3.46 on a $2 win wager. The 5-year-old Practical Joke mare improved her career bankroll to $1.36 million with her career record at 6-3-1 in 12 starts.
“When that horse [Grand Job] sprinted away from her [Ways and Means], there were a fair number of horses who would have had their hearts broken, if you will,” Brown said. “The fact that she regained her confidence and bore down again, I think that says a lot about her heart and determination.
“I know the filly that was second looks like she’s really turning into a top filly, so I knew [Ways And Means] was going to have her work cut out for her wearing her down,” Brown added. “I’m just thankful that we got her nose down in time. I was telling Flavien that we brought her back in training to win the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland and I think she’ll love the seven-eighths at Keeneland. You can see she’s just getting there at six-and-a-half. If we can just keep her healthy and ready for that race in the fall, she’ll be very competitive.”
Ways and Means continued her domination at Saratoga, notching her fifth win in six starts [with one runner-up performance], including a victory in the 2024 Grade 1 Test.
Brown said the main target for Ways and Means is the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina – a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint – on August 29 at the Spa to keep her in favorable conditions. Brown has won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint a record three times with Wavell Avenue [2015] and Goodnight Olive [2022-23] – the latter taking Champion Female Sprinter honors both years.
“Most of her starts will be in New York, really, outside of that one in the fall,” Brown said.
Grand Job, out of the multiple stakes-placed Ishiguru mare Sure Route, continued a stellar campaign that started with a win in the Grade 2 Inside Information in January at Gulfstream Park before a close second, by a nose to Eclatant in the Grade 1 Madison in April at Keeneland.
“She ran her heart out,” Mott said. “You couldn't expect much more than that. She ran as good as she could.”
Added Alvarado: “She ran her heart out, no excuses. She just got nailed right at the wire. She won the race every step of the way except where it mattered. There was nothing more you could ask of her. She did what I asked her to do and turning for home she responded. We just got an unlucky bob today."
Live racing resumes Saturday, Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga, with a stacked 14-race card encompassing six Grade 1s among seven graded events, highlighted by the 158th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in Race 13 at 7:04 p.m. Eastern.
The program kicks off at 11 a.m. and includes the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap [Race 11] - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile; the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan [Race 12]; the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing [Race 7]; the Grade 3, $400,000 True North [Race 8]; the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur [Race 9] – a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; and the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun [Race 10].
America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/event-info/tv-schedule.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the best way to bet every race of the five-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
