Brightwork, Ways and Means Finally Have Rematch in Test

Assembling a field of six of the best 3-year-old filly sprinters in the country, the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) will live up to its name at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3.

The stars of the show could very well be the leading pair from the last time Saratoga offered this class of fillies a seven-furlong opportunity in the Spinaway Stakes (G1). Brightwork  and Ways and Means  looked like a rivalry would begin as they thrilled the grandstand with a stretch-long duel, Brightwork emerging on top by a half-length. Instead, the fillies will have their rematch 11 months later.

Video: Spinaway S. (G1)

Klaravich Stables' Ways and Means went to the sidelines following her defeat as the favorite and returned seven months later with an attempt to make the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Successfully qualifying off one prep, the daughter of Practical Joke   finished fourth at Churchill Downs and trainer Chad Brown began plotting her steps to the Test.

Step one: get back in the winner's circle, which she did emphatically in romping by 8 1/4 lengths in a mile allowance at the Spa June 6.

"We've spaced her races out purposefully for this race," said Brown. "She's in a good rhythm working."

WSS Racing's Brightwork emerged from the Spinaway as a frontrunner for 2-year-old champion. Instead, Brightwork's dominance started to dim as the division turned its focus to two-turn contests.

"I think it was a little bit the distance, and we did ask a lot of her," trainer John Ortiz said. "It is rare to see a 2-year-old break their maiden and make it all the way to the end of the year like that. I think we squeezed the lemon just a little bit too much at the end of the year."

Off for nine months since a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Outwork   filly still holds a perfect 4-for-4 record in sprints and is 2-for-2 at Saratoga. Breaking from the far outside, she gains the riding services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the first time.

Also undefeated in sprints is Stonestreet Stables' Emery . A 5 3/4-length debut winner at the Spa last summer, the daughter of More Than Ready has been exceptional in three starts this season.

She won the July 4 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in her last start, and trainer Brad Cox has been impressed with how she's handled the workload this year.

"Classy filly, really easy to deal with. The last few months, we've thrown a lot at her," Cox said. "She's settling into her races and finishing up."

Cox also sends out Red White and Blue Racing's Denim and Pearls , a 9 1/4-length winner of the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland who disappointed when seventh as the favorite May 3 in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) over a sloppy Churchill Downs surface.

Winning that Eight Belles was William Butler and WinStar Farm's My Mane Squeeze . The Audible   filly is 5-for-7 at one turn and shortens to what trainer Mike Maker calls "the perfect distance for her" after taking a shot at Thorpedo Anna  in the 1 1/8-mile Acorn (G1) June 7.

Jacks or Better Farm's Belle's Blue Bell , entering off victory in Monmouth Park's Maryfield Stakes, rounds out the field.

The Test is race 8 with post time at 3:54 p.m. ET.