Ways and Means Dominates Big A's Gallant Bloom Stakes

Overwhelmingly the one to beat, Ways and Means  delivered with her four-length victory in the $242,500 Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack Sept. 29.

Off the stylish victory and the 3-year-old filly's prior win in the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in August, the Klaravich Stables' homebred heads to the Nov. 2 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar as the possible favorite for Chad Brown. The trainer has won the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint three times, including back-to-back scores with Goodnight Olive  in 2022-23 and with Wavell Avenue  in 2015. 

The 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom was the daughter of Practical Joke  's first time facing elders. She aced the assignment under jockey Flavien Prat while never being shown the whip. After pressing the early pace set by Nic's Style , Ways and Means dispensed of that rival at the top of the stretch. With her ears pinned back, her preferred style, she glided through the slop by her lonesome to the wire.

The final time was a sharp 1:15.46 after early fractions of :22.65, :45.96, and 1:09.43. As the 2-5 favorite, Ways and Means returned $2.90.

The order of finish was completed by Nic's Style, Sterling Silver , Hot Fudge , and Pacific Rose .

"It was impressive. Hopefully, she comes out of the race good," Brown said. "I was worried about the track because she didn't run good on an off-track in the Kentucky Oaks, but there might have been a lot of factors for that, not just a wet track.

"I love how Flavien kept his position. It was kind of tight going down the backside, and I wasn't sure if he was going to tug her back or let her go. I'm happy that he went, and she put away a good filly—that filly on the inside (Nic's Style) is pretty fast. It was a perfect prep, so long as she comes out healthy. I wasn't feeling comfortable with a 13-week layoff to the Breeders' Cup and that's going to be a real race going seven furlongs out there."

Kentucky-bred Ways and Means elevated her earnings to $707,000 and her career record to 4-2-0 in seven starts. The Gallant Bloom marked her third consecutive victory since June. Prior to the Aug. 3 Test Stakes, which she won by 2 1/2 lengths, the filly rambled to an 8 1/4-length allowance score during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga June 6.

Brown also trained Practical Joke and her stakes-winning dam, Strong Incentive , for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence. Ways and Means is a half sister to grade 1 winner Surge Capacity  and grade 3 winner Highly Motivated  .

Practical Joke stood the 2024 season at Ashford Stud for a fee of $65,000. His Chilean-bred son, Mufasa , won the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday.