Carina Mia, Nickname Face Off in Eight Belles

Carina Mia came up short in points for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Nickname's connections opted not to run, but both graded winners still will be prominent on Oaks Day in the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes (gr. II) May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Three Chimneys Farm's Carina Mia, a speedy daughter of Malibu Moon  , broke through in the Nov. 28 Golden Rod (gr. II) at Churchill, but tired to finish fourth in the Ashland (gr. I) April 9 at Keeneland in her 3-year-old debut.

The Bill Mott trainee is the only filly in the field of eight for the seven-furlong Eight Belles with a win over the Churchill main track.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Nickname, the only other graded winner in the field and the only grade I victress, had enough Oaks points (40) to get into the gate, following three consecutive second-place finishes in the Martha Washington, Honeybee (gr. III), and Beaumont (gr. III), but her connections elected to run her in the Eight Belles.

Other intriguing runners entered include Martha Washington winner Marquee Miss, and two-time stakes winner Stageplay, who defeated Carina Mia in their maiden special weight debut but finished second in the Golden Rod and came in a far-back fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Rachel Alexandra (gr. II) and the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II).

Last-time-out stakes winner Blip n' Th Bye and stakes-placed Put Da Blame On Me, along with allowance winners Jade Princess and Summer Reading, complete the field.