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Ways and Means registers first stakes win in capturing G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

by Brian Bohl

Klaravich Stables’ Ways and Means rewarded her heavy favoritism on Saturday, notching her first career stakes score by pulling away from the competition out of the turn and finishing strong in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster at Saratoga Race Course.

The 99th running of the Test, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, saw Ways and Means cut back in distance on her return to stakes company following a runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in March and a fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May.

The Kentucky homebred, who romped by 8 1/4 lengths against allowance company going one mile last out on June 6 at the Spa, returned to the same track and broke sharp from post 4 under jockey Flavien Prat as the 3-5 mutuel favorite. Emery, from the inside post, surged to the front to go with Ways and Means, taking the early command in leading the compact five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.43 seconds and the half in 44.54 over a muddy and sealed main track.

Ways and Means, under Prat’s patient ride, tracked in second position and had plenty in reserve when entering the stretch, overtaking Emery and powering home a 2 1/2-length winner in a final time 1:22.28. The win marked the second Test victory for trainer Chad Brown, who conditioned Klaravich Stables' 2018 winner Seperationofpowers, as well as Ways and Means’ third overall win in six career starts.

The Tyler Gaffalione-piloted Emery, one of two entrants in the field for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, finished two lengths clear of the New York-bred My Mane Squeeze for second, with stablemate Denim and Pearls finishing fourth. Belle’s Blue Bell rounded out the order of finish in fifth, while Brightwork was scratched after rearing in the paddock. Trainer John Ortiz subsequently reported that Brightwork has returned to his barn and is in good order.

Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables, who also owned and bred two graded stakes-winning half-siblings to Ways and Means in Highly Motivated and Surge Capacity, said he holds the Test in high regard.

“Anything with a homebred is extra special, and she’s got a brother and sister who are also phenomenal performers,” said Klarman. “It’s her first stakes win even though she’s done so much, and to win not just a Grade 1, but the Test, is extremely special.”

Ways and Means returned $3.40 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $569,500. The Practical Joke filly’s only off-the-board finish came in the crowded 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in which she still ran competitively behind the victorious Thorpedo Anna over a sloppy and sealed track in the spring.

“We always knew she was a true Grade 1 horse and has had some bad luck along the way,” Brown said. “She really showed a lot of heart and perseverance to overcome her injury last year and she dealt with a sealed track today, too. We weren’t sure if she was going to like it, but she really showed up for us today. That Kentucky Oaks when it had a wet track was a little tough to figure out. It was a mile and an eighth and I really think she breezed too fast the week before the race and she ran into a monster horse. It was unclear to me whether or not she could run on a wet track off that race.

“Cutting back has been key for her,” Brown added. “She definitely has an affinity to one-turn races and Saratoga. She showed that when she broke her maiden so impressively here. Really her only defeat at Saratoga was in the Spinaway when she had a ton of trouble, clipped heels and actually got seriously injured in the race. Fortunately, she was able to come back from it. She was all class and Flavien gets along with her so well. I thought he did a really good job to assert himself early and from there she really had no excuse with that trip.”

Prat registered his first career Test win and has been aboard for each of Ways and Means’ victories, including the previous win in Saratoga in which she earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

“To be honest, she broke so well I could have gone if I wanted to,” Prat said. “I could have crossed over and gone to the rail, but I figured I was fine in the middle of the track and figured if someone on the inside was willing to go, I had no problem with that. She always runs with a target so I didn't think today was the day to try something."

Emery, who had won four of her first five starts for Cox, including last out in the Grade 3 Victory Ride in July at Aqueduct Racetrack, posted wins in her first three starts of 2024 before her second-place showing. It was the second Grade 1 appearance for the More Than Ready filly, following a fourth-place performance in the Frizette last October at the Big A.

“She ran well. I thought Tyler did a good job of not letting the winner get away early,” said Cox. “She kind of backed out of it a little bit, he said she may have been a little uncomfortable down on the inside. When he straightened up and got her outside, she kind of re-rallied, fought on for second, and came at the winner a bit, but all in all, happy with the performance."

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack in Race 9 and the Listed $150,000 Birdstone in Race 2. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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