Carina Mia's next dance the Ballerina

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After watching his Grade 1 stakes-winning 3-year-old filly Carina Mia put in a workout Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track, trainer Bill Mott had the following thought: “All I know is that filly who beat her has to be pretty darn good.”

Mott was referring to Songbird, who defeated Carina Mia by 5 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here on July 24. Songbird, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, is undefeated in nine career starts.

While Songbird is headed to the Grade 1 Alabama at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 20, Carina Mia will turn back in distance and run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina here on Aug. 27. The Ballerina, run at seven furlongs, is open to fillies and mares ages 3 and up.

“I know the Ballerina can be won by a 3-year-old because it’s been done before,” said Mott, who won the 2000 Ballerina with the 3-year-old Dream Supreme.

Other 3-year-old fillies to win the Ballerina include Artemis Agrotera (2014), Pearl City (1997), Lady’s Secret (1985), and Blitey (1979).

Carina Mia has won two stakes this year around one turn – the Grade 1 Acorn at a mile June 11 and the Grade 2 Eight Belles at seven furlongs at Churchill on May 6.

On Friday, in her first work since the CCA Oaks, Carina Mia went three furlongs in 36.68 seconds, with her final quarter in 23.36. She galloped out four furlongs in 48.47 seconds and five furlongs in 1:02.87.

“Beautiful,” Mott said.

Another 3-year-old filly who could run in the Ballerina is Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia, who also worked Friday over the Oklahoma training track, going four furlongs in 49.68 seconds after breaking off in a pedestrian 14.06 for her opening eighth.

Carina Mia beat Cathryn Sophia in the Acorn.

Cathryn Sophia is also being considered for the Monmouth Oaks on Aug. 20 or the Princess of Sylmar at Parx on Sept. 5.

The older horses Wavell Avenue, By the Moon, Paulassilverlining, Sheer Drama, and Haveyougoneaway are under consideration for the Ballerina. Sheer Drama worked five furlongs in 59.80 at Gulfstream on Friday.