Anonymity might improve

DEL MAR, Calif. – A year after she finished second as a heavy favorite in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for female sprinters, Anonymity will have the same role in the same race at Del Mar on Sunday.

Anonymity was 2-5 against three rivals last year. She will not be that short of a price in this year’s $100,000 race at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sunday, Anonymity will face as many as eight rivals in her attempt to win her first stakes.

Anonymity has been second or third in four consecutive sprint stakes for fillies and mares, including a third at 31-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs last November.

In her lone start this year, Anonymity was second by 1 3/4 lengths to Marley’s Freedom in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 6. Marley’s Freedom is not part of the Rancho Bernardo field.

“That helps,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “That mare is pretty good.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Anonymity, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 88-91-89

◗ Anonymity, who races for Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth’s LNJ Foxwoods, underwent surgery last winter to have a bone chip removed from a knee, Mandella said. In the Great Lady M., Anonymity closed from fourth in a field of six, but was not entirely focused on racing.

“It was a good race,” Mandella said. “She hadn’t run in a while. She had the comeback jitters pretty good. Not in the race, but in the paddock.

“Hopefully, she’ll be better this time. We don’t have to ship in and we’ve been able to school her. I expect she’ll be pretty good about it.”

◗ Anonymity is versatile. She has led throughout and raced as a stalker. In the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, she closed from 10th in a field of 14 to finish a neck behind winner Shamrock Rose.

Lady Ninja, by Majesticperfection Last 3 Beyers: 91-98-80

◗ Lady Ninja was claimed for $32,000 here last September and has since won four of eight starts. Lady Ninja has won optional claimers in her last two starts, one at Santa Anita on May 11 and one here on July 19. Sunday’s race will be her stakes debut, and trainer Richard Baltas thinks she can win.

“She’s put a couple together,” Baltas said. “I don’t think she has to improve. I think she is best horse in the race.”

◗ Drayden Van Dyke will ride Lady Ninja, replacing Flavien Prat, who is the regular rider of Anonymity.

Danuska’s My Girl, by Shackleford Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-94

◗ Danuska’s My Girl won the Las Flores Stakes on April 7 and the Desert Stormer Stakes on May 19 at Santa Anita, but faded from the lead to finish fourth in the Great Lady M. Stakes.

“She probably doesn’t like Los Al as much as she does this track,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

◗ Danuska’s My Girl is quick. She drew the outside post and is expected to be part of the pace.