Anonymity can make name for herself in Rancho Bernardo

DEL MAR, Calif. – Anonymity is gaining much-deserved attention with her recent wins at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

The 4-year-old filly is unbeaten in two starts this year, both optional claimers, and will have her stakes debut in Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. The $100,000 Rancho Bernardo provides a class test for Anonymity, who races for Larry Roth’s LNJ Foxwoods.

“We don’t know about her yet,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “She hasn’t run too much. She’s always run better than she trains.”

Bought for $600,000 as a yearling, Anonymity was plagued by minor issues early in her career and later was sidelined with a bone chip in a knee, Mandella said.

This year, Anonymity has won at six furlongs by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on June 16 and at seven furlongs by 8 1/4 lengths here on July 29. In both races, she was well in hand and showed improvement. “Every time she runs, she looks like she has,” Mandella said.

Anonymity is likely to set the pace in the Rancho Bernardo. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the June 16 race, has the mount.

The race is expected to be led by Skye Diamonds, who won the 2017 Rancho Bernardo but is winless in her last five starts. Skye Diamonds was second to Marley’s Freedom in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 7. Marley’s Freedom is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25.