2016 Ballerina Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes comes our way this Saturday, August 27 from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A purse of $500,000 will be on the line for fillies and mares three years old and upward willing to go seven furlongs on Saratoga's dirt track.

10 talented older fillies will take to the track in the Ballerina Stakes - race 7 on Saratoga's Travers Stakes Saturday schedule. Post time is 2:59 PM. Here is a glance into the past performances of all 10 entries for this competitive Grade 1 stakes.

2016 Ballerina Stakes Race Preview at Saratoga Race Course

Wavell Avenue 3-1 - Chad Brown trained mare has placed in 12 of 17 career starts - seven wins, two seconds and three third place finishes and finished second in the Eclipse Award voting for Female Sprinter. Last time out was a good win in the minor Shine Again Stakes on this track at this distance August 3 after a second in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses Handicap at Belmont Park June 25, a disappointing fourth as favorite in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs May 7, an OK third in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland April 9 and a career defining win at 10-1 odds in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She also had a decent second in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Belmont Park September 26 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score August 26. Wavell Avenue has been just OK since her Breeders' Cup triumph but seems to be finding her form again. She chases her second straight graded stakes score from gate 8 Saturday. Irad Ortiz rides the tepid morning line favorite.

Carina Mia 7-2 - Bill Mott trained filly has four wins and two second place finishes in seven career starts. She enters off a decent second behind the terrific Songbird in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on this track July 24 and a two race win streak - the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park June 11 and by six lengths in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6. Before that was an uncharacteristic fourth in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April and another impressive two race win streak - by 4 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs November 28 and a maiden score by 9 3/4 lengths in record time at Keeneland October 29. Carina Mia has been very good so far and is expected to be competitive again Saturday. Joel Rosario has been tabbed to ride the morning line second choice from post 9.

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Paulassilverlining 4-1 - Michelle Nevin trained filly has placed in 12 of 14 career starts - six wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. She won the Grade 2 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park in October, 2014 and went on to a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes to end her 2014 campaign - she also won the minor Ruthless Stakes in January, 2015. She raced in graded stakes company for the first time in 17 months April 17 and posted a very nice 3 3/4 length win over Cavorting among others in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap and has since posted two more good results - a second last time out in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap here July 27 and in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park May 21. Before her recent win streak she posted a second in the minor Correction Stakes March 19 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score with a career best 106 Beyer Speed Figure February 11. Paulassilverlining has been a factor in every race so far in her career and hopes to be again Saturday. She looks to keep an impressive roll going from the rail with Jose Ortiz aboard the third betting choice from post 3.

Sheer Drama 5-1 - won the 2015 Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at 1 1/8 miles here last year on Travers Day and also won the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap last July 18. She has been just OK lately - a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park June 11 followed an decent third in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6, a terrific win over Stopchargingmaria in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland April 9 and an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Other results include runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap last June, and La Troienne Stakes in May, 2015. She also had a win in the Grade 2 Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream in March, 2015. Sheer Drama now has 23 career starts overall with seven wins, eight seconds and two third place finishes and enters this week having been in every race the last 18 months. Joe Bravo has been tabbed with snapping a two race losing streak from gate 4.

By the Moon 6-1 - winner of the 2014 Grade 1 Frizette Stakes - Michelle Nevin trained filly has four wins, three seconds and a third place finish in 10 career starts. Last time out was one of those wins - in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses Handicap at Belmont Park June 15 after a fourth in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct April 17 and eight months away. Before the layoff was a third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga August 8, 2015 and consecutive runner-up finishes - the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes last June 6 at Belmont Park and the minor Parx Oaks in May of last year. She also had a win in the minor Caesar's Wish Stakes in March, 2015. By the Moon has placed in five of her last six starts overall and will be looking for her second straight graded stakes score from gate 2. Javier Castellano has the mount.

Haveyougoneaway 10-1 - Thomas Morely trained mare has 25 career starts with 10 wins, four seconds and six third place finishes. She has been very good lately against lesser competition finishing first or second in seven of her last eight starts and proved she belonged with the big girls last time out with a win in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap here July 27. Before that was another win in the minor Dancin Renee Stakes June 3, consecutive seconds - the minor Critical Eye Stakes May 30 and the minor Carousel Stakes April 14 and wins in two more minor stakes races - the Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 20 and the American Beauty Stakes on that track in January. She has placed in 13 of her last 15 starts overall ahead of this week - competitive every time out. Jockey John Velazquez tries to keep the roll going from the outside post 10 Saturday.

Spelling Again 12-1 - has six wins, three seconds and five third place finishes in 20 career starts and has placed in nine of 11 starts ahead of this weekend. Last time out was a breakthrough win in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park July 2 after a third in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs May 28, another third in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park May 15 and a seventh in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland April 9. Before that was a third in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct November 27, a good win in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs November 7, a fourth in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes in October and two straight wins including the minor Open Mind Stakes in September. She had been very competitive the last 16 months and will aim for her second straight graded stakes score Saturday. Luis Saez is scheduled to ride from post 7.

Birdatthewire 15-1 - three time graded winner in 2015 made her stakes debut January 24, 2014 one to remember - a win by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes for trainer Tom Proctor and followed that with a decent second in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes February 21 and a good win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks March 28. She has tailed off in three starts after that. She has been better lately - consecutive thirds ahead of this weekend - the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes last time out at Monmouth Park July 31 and the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park July 2. Before that were three straight off-the-board finishes in graded stakes action - a fifth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff May 7, a fourth in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in April and a fifth in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita February 13. She also had an OK second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes January 16 and a win in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes December 26. Birdatthewire now has four wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 17 career starts and has placed in her last two starts. She looks for her first win in six starts this year from the rail with Junior Alvarado guiding her.

Sarah Sis 20-1 - Ingrid Mason trained filly has four graded stakes victories in her career - the 2015 Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes, the 2015 Grade 3 Iowa Oaks and the 2015 Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes included and had been largely disappointing this year before a nice win two starts back in front running style in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington June 25. She followed that result with a fifth in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap on this track July 27. Before her most recent win was an eighth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff in May, a fifth in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes in March and a fourth in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes in February. Sarah Sis now has seven wins and four second place finishes in 19 career starts and has placed in just one of her last five starts overall - the good win two starts back. She looks to gain a little consistency and for her second graded stakes score in her last three starts - from post 5 with Florent Geroux in the irons.

Linda Linda 30-1 - Chilean bred Ignacio Correas trained filly has placed in all eight career starts - four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in seven starts at home including a win in the Group 1 Alberto Solari Magnasco in October. She was off for 10 months before making her North American debut last time out which resulted in an OK third in the minor Shine Again Stakes on this track August 3. Linda Linda has been a factor in every race so far and will be out for her first North American score from gate 6 Saturday. Jose Lezcano gets the call.

2016 Ballerina Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 7 on Saratoga's Saturday card with a Post Time of 2:59 PM.