Ways and Means thrashes rivals in Bed o' Roses

Ways and Means turned in another dazzling display at Saratoga on Friday, strolling to a 7 3/4-length win in the $300,000 Bed o' Roses (G2) over seven furlongs.

The 1-2 favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares, Ways and Means, tracked in second behind pacesetter Irish Maxima until upper stretch, when her class proved too much for that rival and the rest.

It was the fourth win in five Saratoga outings for the Seth Klarman homebred. She had previously won two overnight events by a combined 21 lengths, as well as the 2024 Test (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths. Her lone setback at the Spa was a troubled second in the 2023 Spinaway (G1).

Overall, Ways and Means has won five of 10 starts, with another stakes success occurring in the Gallant Bloom (G2) last September. That was her most recent victory, which was followed by a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in November and a third in the Derby City Distaff (G1) in the slop at Churchill Downs on May 3.

"She loves Saratoga, and she's a super nice horse," trainer Chad Brown said. "She's won on a sloppy track before, but now that we're getting to run her more, you can see she does prefer a fast track."

Under Flavien Prat, Ways and Means completed the Bed o' Roses in a swift 1:21.11 over a fast track and paid $3. Scylla was a clear and distant second, 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Jody's Pride, who nosed out Miss Justify for third. Irish Maxima, Justique, and St. Benedicts Prep rounded out the order of finish.

"I'm not sure yet [what's next]. The (Aug. 23) Ballerina (G1) is very late into the season, and I'm going to try to figure out what to do with her before then," Brown said.

A Kentucky-bred, Ways and Means is by Practical Joke and out of the stakes-winning Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward. Strong Incentive has also reared Grade 1 winner Surge Capacity and Grade 3 scorer Highly Motivated.