Practical Joke Filly Romps in G2 Bed o’ Roses
Practical Joke’s Grade I-winning Ways and Means (4f Practical Joke x Strong Inventive, by Warrior’s Reward) registered her third graded stakes success on Friday at Saratoga with a 7 ¾ length romp in the Grade II Bed o’ Roses Stakes.
Coming into this race after a third in the Grade I Derby City Distaff last out, Ways and Means entered a battle for the lead early before settling at the leader’s hip. A heavy favorite in the race, Ways and Means was happy to track that one until they hit midturn and she was turned loose.
Rolling up alongside the leader, Ways and Means left that one behind turning into the stretch and quickly opened on the field.
Prat gave her a tap in the final furlong to keep her focused as she galloped to the wire with the third placed finisher 14 lengths behind.
A homebred for Klaravich Stables, the Chad Brown-trained Ways and Means has won five of her 10 starts with her three graded stakes joined by placings in the Derby City Distaff and Grade I Spinaway Stakes among her three other top three finishes.
“I was confident she was training very well, but I’ll tell you, entering that final turn there she was catching a lot of pressure between horses and Scylla is a nice horse and was closer today and getting a nice ground-saving trip,” Brown said. “I thought maybe it would be quite a showdown in the middle of the stretch there but [Ways and Means] did burst away from there, which was impressive.”
Ways and Means is one of three stakes winners from four foals out of the stakes winning Strong Incentive. That mare also produced Grade I winner Surge Capacity and Grade III winner Highly Motivated with four winners from four to race.
Strong Incentive is a half-sister to multiple stakes placed Hall Pass and to the dam of Grade II winner Wow Whata Summer.
This is the 11th stakes winner of the year for Practical Joke, putting him alone atop the General Sires list one better than Into Mischief.