BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

October 31, 2026

Chad C. Brown

Seth Klarman

Ways and Means

Keeneland Race Course

Filly & Mare Sprint

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations for Ways and Means winning our inaugural Breeders' Cup race on this championship Saturday, Breeders' Cup filly and mare sprint.

Chad, I know this has to mean a lot to you with this mare having redemption with the Breeders' Cup win but also proving that she can take her show on the road, and what a way to finish it off today.

CHAD C. BROWN: Well said. That's exactly it. This filly has been an incredible talent since the first time she stepped into the barn. She's had her share of breaks. You can see in her form. She's had various different setbacks and injuries, and it's taken an incredible team to keep her healthy and get her here, from the vets at Rood & Riddle. Dr. Bramlage did a minor surgery on her as a two year old after the spin away. We thought we were in real trouble with her career and we got her back.

And since then, some other just illnesses. Rood & Riddle are my team at Teigland, Franklin, and Brokken that does all of our on-track work have really worked around the clock to always give her extra special care. Noted foot specialist Ian McKinley glues her shoes, and he's traveled far and wide to make sure he is available to keep her feet in order.

And my team at the barn. So many different team members have contributed with their own individual talents and in certain ways, and just always did the best to get her back on the track 100 percent.

And as you said, she was able to shake that label of a Saratoga specialist today on a neutral track against the top sprinters in the country and really put on a show, and I'm very pleased for the filly because I knew she could do that, and she really deserves all the credit.

THE MODERATOR: Seth Klarman, a homebred through and through, born just down the road here. How special is that for you.

SETH KLARMAN: It's amazingly special. She had bad luck in various ways over the course of her career, some illness. Saratoga Two Year Old Stakes she got a little bit cut off.

We saw talent. She did the things amazing horses do, winning by large margins, overcoming some amount of adversity as well. We just couldn't be happier that she had a chance to show who she really is today.

THE MODERATOR: I know she is scheduled to go to the Fasig-Tipton sale, so is that still the plan?

SETH KLARMAN: As far as I'm concerned, unless Chad advises otherwise, she's done everything a race mare should do, and we feel so fortunate to have had her. We've taken good care of her, Chad has, and his team, so time to start a new career.

Q. Chad, do you have any idea why she was backed out before the start?

CHAD C. BROWN: No, we were speaking about that, Seth and I. I don't know. We'll find out. I know the horse next to her was too. I'm not sure what caused it. Obviously not what you want to see as a trainer in any race, let alone a Breeders' Cup race where you're a heavy favorite.

So I was quite concerned. She's never had issues in the gate before. But fortunately, that conversation, that question to Flavien will be not a nervous one. I'll ask him later. But yeah, thankfully it didn't affect the outcome.

Q. She was in and everything was settled. Take us through your thinking as you observed the race?

CHAD C. BROWN: I was a little concerned the first, I'd say, quarter mile where she didn't break quite as well, and it seemed like maybe he was using her a little bit to go get the spot we wanted in the pocket right behind the speed. The fractions they were going were solid, but she normally is there right away in hand, and the fact that he had to possibly use her a bit to get up into the spot we thought we'd have out of the gate, I was a little bit concerned of potentially what she'd have left when it really counted in the stretch, but sure enough, once she reached the frontrunners, she did put her ears up and he had her in hand and I felt a lot better from that point, just hopefully get a seam.