Carina Mia shortens up, faces older in Ballerina
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Carina Mia faced the biggest challenge of her career when taking on Songbird and coming out second-best despite a gallant effort in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks earlier in the Saratoga meet. On Saturday, Carina Mia will face a different kind of challenge: turning back to seven furlongs and taking on older horses for the first time in the $500,000 Ballerina.
Carina Mia gave Songbird the sternest test of her career before succumbing through the final furlong of the 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks, with her second-place finish following impressive victories in the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 2 Eight Belles.
“She did what we asked her to do,” trainer Bill Mott said when asked to reflect on Carina Mia’s performance in the CCA Oaks. “We wanted her to engage Songbird leaving the three-eighths pole, she did that, and she made me stand up for three-sixteenths of a mile. But that other filly, she’s just in a class of her own right now, particularly at that distance.”
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Distance should not be a major factor in the Ballerina for Carina Mia, who won the seven-furlong Eight Belles by eight widening lengths at Churchill Downs.
“I think seven-eighths is a good trip for her,” Mott said. “She certainly ran well on Oaks Day. There are a lot of good fillies in this field, but I’m confident she’ll give a good account of herself.”
A field of 10 was entered for the Ballerina. It includes defending Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint champion Wavell Avenue, who won for the first time in four starts this season when rallying to a 1 3/4-length decision in the seven-furlong Shine Again here earlier this month. Wavell Avenue used similar tactics to upset the Filly and Mare Sprint in her 2015 finale.
“She’s circling back into good form now,” trainer Chad Brown said. “This was about the time last year that she got really good. I thought she ran really well two starts back at Belmont, she just had a nightmare trip. But she got a good ride in her last start, won, and came back with a sharp work this past week. I’m going into the race with a lot of confidence. I just hope we get enough pace.”
Trainer David Fawkes is hoping for a similar pace scenario with his multiple Grade 1 winner Sheer Drama, who turns back to seven furlongs for the first time since winning the Grade 1 Madison from well back in the pack while making her 2016 debut last spring at Keeneland.
Spelling Again is already assured of a spot in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by virtue of her victory in the Princess Rooney in her last start July 2 at Gulfstream Park. And she projects to be on or near the lead in this lineup under jockey Luis Saez.
Haveyougoneaway is in top form for trainer Tom Morley, having won stakes in each of her last two starts, including the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap here one month ago.
Birdatthewire is yet another Grade 1 winner in the field, although she’s winless in six starts since taking the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita in her 3-year-old finale.
Key Contenders
Wavell Avenue, by Harlington
Last 3 Beyers: 97-92-87
◗ She and Sheer Drama are the only members of this field with more than a single victory over the local strip.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Wavell Avenue. Trainer Chad Brown is 17-0-2-1 over the past five years in graded stakes on dirt at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Carina Mia, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 93-98-94
◗ She’ll be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, who replaces the injured Julien Leparoux. Leparoux has been aboard Carina Mia in all seven of her starts.
Sheer Drama, by Burning Roma
Last 3 Beyers: 92-89-100
◗ Like Wavell Avenue, she has won twice in three starts over the local strip – a maiden race at 3 and the Grade 1 Personal Ensign when defeating Got Lucky and Untapable here last summer.