Ways and Means Romps at Saratoga

Practical Joke’s Grade I-placed juvenile Ways and Means (3f Practical Joke x Strong Incentive, by Warrior’s Reward) impressed at Saratoga on Thursday with an 8 ¼ length romp on the dirt.

Finishing fourth last time out in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, the filly returned to a mile in this event and went off as a heavy favorite in the race. She broke awkwardly before settling on the outside of the pack in fifth. Moving closer with just over a half mile left to go, the break didn’t harm her run for the win with Ways and Means coming up to the leader in the turn.

Taking the lead as they raced into the stretch, Ways and Means proved much the best with an 8 ¼ length win and the third placed runner 14 ¾ lengths back from her.

Trained by Chad Brown as a homebred for Klaravich Stables, Ways and Means has hit the board in four of five starts with seconds in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes and Grade II Gulfstream Park Oaks in addition to two Saratoga victories.

The filly is one of three stakes performers out of the stakes winning Strong Incentive. That mare also produced Grade I winner Surge Capacity and Grade III winner Highly Motivated among her four winners from four to race.

Practical Joke sits eighth among all North American sires by stakes winners and fifth by stakes performers in 2024.