Kentucky-bred Ways and Means made short work of her rivals in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Klaravich Stables homebred dominated the field, winning as she pleased by 5 ½ lengths.
The seven-furlong Ballerina for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up was a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. That expected Breeders’ Cup run is set to be the final career outing for Ways and Means before she is offered at public auction.
The daughter of Practical Joke made it clear who owns the historic Spa oval as she cruised to her sixth win from seven starts at the track. In giving five-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown his second win in the Ballerina, Ways and Means also took care of some unfinished business from a year ago. Last August, the bay mare was expected to be favored in the race. But illness kept her from that start and left her sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season. Since running third behind R Disaster during her seasonal bow in the Derby City Distaff (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs, Ways and Means has been getting her form back to the level that earned her a first Grade 1 triumph in the 2024 Test here.
“Five wins in six starts here [prior to today] and a close second in the other one in her career,” Brown said. “She’s had an amazing career, and she was able to come through once again and shine on one of the biggest days of the year up here in Saratoga.”
Ways and Means is Breeders’ Cup Bound
After Ways and Means earned her fifth graded stakes win and seventh victory overall from 13 career starts, her conditioner took the opportunity to bestow more accolades upon the mare.
“I think from here onto the Breeders’ Cup, I wouldn’t plan on running her [again beforehand],” Brown said. “She runs so well fresh. A long career, you can see I rested her between that last race she had, which she was fully extended there, and after the last time, a little tired afterwards. I let her refill her tank and gave her plenty of time, I’m inclined to do the same thing now, final career start being the Breeders’ Cup, if she tells me.”