The weather did not bother 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward) as she skimmed the Aqueduct slop and easily took home the GII Gallant Bloom Stakes on Sunday afternoon.
Last seen capturing the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 3, that effort came on the back of a career best two back–at least on paper–over a Saratoga first-level allowance group June 6. She'd dominated those rivals by 8 1/4 lengths and earned a 104 Beyer, stronger than anything else this field had managed to produce. She'd just run off the board before that May 3 in the GI Kentucky Oaks.
The heavy 2-5 favorite here, she exited the gate in good order and tracked Nic's Style (Uncaptured) up the backstretch. Racing to the outside of her competition through :22.65, :45.96, and 1:09.43 splits, she pushed for command on the far bend and had set her sights for home as they swung out of it. Urged on by Flavien Prat, the Klaravich Stables homebred inhaled that long time leader and splashed home a no-doubt winner by four lengths. The pacesetter held on for second while Sterling Silver (Cupid) picked up the last trifecta spot.
“It was impressive. Hopefully she comes out of the race good,” said Chad Brown. “I was worried about the track because she didn't run [well] on an off track in the Kentucky Oaks, but there might have been a lot of factors for that, not just a wet track.”
Brown added, “I love how Flavien [Prat] 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 [No. 2, 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.”
When asked about where Ways and Means will be making Breeders' Cup preparations, Brown confirmed all of his horses will be located either at Belmont or Keeneland as the dates get closer.
WAYS AND MEANS, the 3YO daughter of @coolmoreamerica stallion Practical Joke, wins the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) impressively with Flavien Prat up for Chad Brown! pic.twitter.com/GHRM8CqA4F
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) September 29, 2024
Pedigree Note:
Ways and Means is not the only accomplished offspring for her dam, herself a Listed winner in Canada, as she claims kin to multiple track-record setting Highly Motivated as well as GI Matriarch Stakes victress Surge Capacity. Since this most recent Grade I-winner, Strong Incentive has only produced a yearling filly by Good Magic and went back to Into Mischief for 2025. The mare is herself a half-sister to the dam of GII Penn Mile hero Wow Whata Summer (Summer Front) and hails from the immediate female family of G1 Prix Jean Prat-placed Monsagem.
Sunday, Belmont at Aqueduct
GALLANT BLOOM S.-GII, $242,500, Belmont The Big A, 9-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:15.46, sy.
1–WAYS AND MEANS, 122, f, 3, by Practical Joke
1st Dam: Strong Incentive (SW, $123,568), by Warrior's Reward
2nd Dam: G G's Dolly, by Comic Strip
3rd Dam: Parfait, by Kingmambo
'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-2-0, $707,000. *1/2 to Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}), GISW, $547,100; and to Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), GSW, $667,375. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nic's Style, 122, f, 4, Uncaptured–Sense When, by Street Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT). O-Stephen Rousseau; B-D'Oyen Thoroughbreds LLC (FL); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Sterling Silver, 122, m, 5, Cupid–Sheet Humor, by Distorted Humor. ($13,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Mark T. Anderson; B-Mallory & Karen Mort (NY); T-William I. Mott. $30,000.
Margins: 4, 2 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.45, 2.45, 5.20.
Also Ran: Hot Fudge, Pacific Rose.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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