Gutsy Brightwork Holds off Ways and Means in Spinaway
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Brightwork wins Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse
In the past performances it will read that WSS Racing's Brightwork entered the stretch on or near the lead and held that advantage to the wire in each of her first four career starts, including her half-length score in the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course.
But those black and white numbers will fail to fully describe the impressive effort Sunday by undefeated Brightwork in the seven-furlong Spinaway, where the daughter of Outwork held sway during an extended challenge from Ways and Means —the 2-5 favorite off an impressive maiden debut for the powerful connections of Eclipse Award-winning owner Klaravich Stables and multiple champion trainer Chad Brown.
A kaleidoscope of emotions hit trainer John Ortiz as Brightwork reached the wire first, giving the conditioner his first grade 1 win.
"Tears, happiness, joy. I'm ecstatic and proud," Ortiz said. "These are all the emotions I can think of right now. I thank my dad and thank God. My family has supported me. My uncles are here, my cousins are here. Jared (Hughes, bloodstock agent) is like my older brother, (owner) Bill Simon and his family. This is such a big deal. We're like one big, giant family and I couldn't be more blessed right now."
After the heart-stopping stretch run, Simon (WSS Racing) paused to thank the team that put his filly in place for such a top effort.
"There are really no words to describe it," Simon said. "I'm so proud of Johnny and what he's done with the horse; Jared, who picked him out; Daniel Ortiz, Johnny's brother, has been living up here with Brightwork for the summer and they deserve all the credit. It's just a phenomenal feeling.
"There were some great horses in this race trained by some great trainers, and we won. It's really special."
While the top two finishers entered off victories by a combined margin of nearly 18 lengths, there would be no early celebration Sunday. Just after the field of nine completed a half-mile in :45.09, Brightwork and Ways and Means would emerge from a well-bunched group of six fillies that had raced into the turn near the lead.
Brightwork would seize the advantage while Ways and Means had some trouble in the backstretch before unleashing a stride so smooth that she seemed to float right into contention under Flavien Prat.
The two fillies that were expected to be the class of the field entered the stretch at full throttle. In the stretch, each determined challenge by Ways and Means would be met by Brightwork, as she dug deep to maintain her advantage. Brightwork completed seven furlongs in 1:23.17 on a fast track.
"She was giving me everything," said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr.
With the win, Brightwork earned a $30,000 credit toward entry fees for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park as the Spinaway is a Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series race. Runner-up Ways and Means will receive a $15,000 credit toward entry fees while third-place Wonder Ride lands a $7,500 credit.
John Ortiz said they will consider training up to the Breeders' Cup or possibly have one more start, with the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 6 at Keeneland or the Chandelier Stakes (G2) Oct. 7 at Santa Anita as possibilities.
Trainer John Ortiz, right, and his brother Daniel, celebrate after Brightwork wins the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Brightwork paid $8, $2.90, and $2.30 across the board. Ways and Means returned $2.20 and $2.10 for place and show while longshot Wonder Ride awarded $6.20 to show.
Ways and Means found a way to challenge for the win after a difficult trip, checking out of a tight spot at one point. Jockey Flavien Prat said the daughter of Practical Joke clipped heels as she angled out for her final run.
Walking L Thoroughbreds' Wonder Ride, sent off at 31-1, earned a placing in her stakes debut. The daughter of Gun Runner rallied in the turn under Julien Leparoux but did not threaten the top two, finishing 6 3/4 lengths behind the winner. She is trained by Ken McPeek.
Miz Sense , an impressive debut maiden winner July 30 at Saratoga for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, was declared a non-starter when the daughter of Street Sense lost rider Manny Franco as the gate opened (post one).
Sales
Barber Road Bloodstock went to $95,000 to purchase Brightwork as a weanling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale, where she was consigned by Wynnstay Sales, agent.
Breeding
Bred in Kentucky by Wynnstay and H. Allen Poindexter, Brightwork is out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Clarendon Fancy, who has produced two winners, including stakes-placed Quiet Company, from three starters.
Outwork is now the sire of two grade 1 winners and both of them won the Spinaway as his daughter Leave No Trace captured last year's edition. Outwork stood the 2023 season for $10,000 at WinStar Farm.