Carina Mia gets class relief in Shine Again Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chad Brown already trains the leading female sprinter in the country in Paulassilverlining, who last Wednesday added the Grade 2 Honorable Miss to a pair of Grade 1 victories earlier in the year.

Recently, Brown welcomed another Grade 1-winning oneturn filly into his stable in Carina Mia, who this Wednesday looks to jump-start her career in the $100,000 Shine Again Stakes at Saratoga. The Shine Again is restricted to fillies and mares who have not won a graded stakes this year.

Carina Mia was recently moved by owner Three Chimneys Farm from Bill Mott to Brown. Under Mott, Carina Mia went 4-3-2 from 12 starts, with earnings of $1.1 million, topped by a victory in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park in June 2016. Carina Mia has lost six consecutive races since then, but three of those losses came to Songbird, a two-time champion, and at distances that would seem less than optimal for Carina Mia.

Carina Mia won the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs going seven furlongs – the distance of the Shine Again – by six lengths last year.

“It looks like a nice spot, and this filly’s worked twice for us and worked very, very well,” Brown said. “So, hopefully she starts things off in our barn the right way and can use this to build on and get back to running in Grade 1’s.”

Carina Mia breaks from post 3 under Javier Castellano. She carries the top weight of 123 pounds, spotting two to eight pounds to her nine rivals.

Last year, Brown won the Shine Again with Wavell Avenue, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 2015. In the Shine Again, Wavell Avenue ran down Momameamaria, who was coming off an allowance win at Belmont going 6 1/2 furlongs. Momameamaria is back in the Shine Again and is once again coming off an allowance win going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont.

“She’s doing better than ever,” trainer David Cannizzo said. “I think I’m the controlling speed.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Carina Mia, by Malibu Moon Last 3 Beyers: 90-93-81

◗ Finds class relief after seven straight Grade 1 races, winning the Acorn and running second Get the latest news from Saratoga at live.drf.com

in the Cotillion and Coaching Club American Oaks.

◗ She was beaten a length by Paulassilverlining in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs in May, her first start off a seven-month layoff.

Momameamaria, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 87-68-69

◗ Ran big up here last year in this same race at odds of 22-1.

◗ Makes her second start off a seven-month layoff.

Birdatthewire, by Summer Bird Last 3 Beyers: 92-76-87

◗ Finished a half-length behind Carina Mia when fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 1 Ballerina here last summer.