Marley's Freedom not facing pushovers in Great Lady M.

It would be foolish to suggest Marley’s Freedom is vulnerable in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos, but this is certain – she faces a better field than the field she defeated as the odds-on favorite in the same sprint stakes one year ago.

Anonymity, third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, is training super for her comeback; front-running Grade 3 winner Danuska’s My Girl has won four straight; and Grade 3 winner Yuvetsi is in better condition than her disappointing comeback would indicate.

Along with Cal-bred stakes winner Show It N Moe It, and stakes-placed Just a Smidge and Exuberance, the 6 1/2-furlong Great Lady M. is shaping up as a competitive race. Marley’s Freedom is no cinch, but she is the favorite.

“She’s doing really well, I just don’t like the post,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

A five-time graded winner, Marley’s Freedom drew post 2 over a track that favors the outside. At least she likes the surface. Since she moved to Baffert last year, Marley’s Freedom has lost only two sprints, both at Churchill Downs.

“She didn’t like Churchill; she struggled,” Baffert said.

Marley’s Freedom finished second last out in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. Last fall at Churchill, she finished fourth in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint.

Her main rival is directly outside on Saturday. Anonymity has not raced in eight months after having a knee chip removed, but her workouts suggest she will fire.

“I think she’s in pretty good shape,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see her run really well the first time, but she’s been off a long time.”

Anonymity won her career debut by nearly four lengths, and she won an allowance comeback last spring by more than four.

Danuska’s My Girl will set the pace, and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee’s chances increase due to a revised strategy for front-runner Yuvetsi.

“I’m going to change her style,” trainer John Sadler said. “She’s not happy going to the front. We’re going to get her back off the pace. That’s going to help get her up to go long [next out].”

If the race unfolds as expected, Danuska’s My Girl will set the pace and Anonymity will press from second. Anonymity should get first run, and can score a minor upset if she can hold off Marley’s Freedom.

KEY CONTENDERS

Marley’s Freedom, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-99

◗ Drayden Van Dyke, her regular rider in California, regains the mount.

◗ Baffert is 10 for 13 with favorites in Los Alamitos graded stakes.

Anonymity, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-87

◗ Flavien Prat rides Anonymity, who finished a head in front of Marley’s Freedom in the Breeders’ Cup.

Danuska’s My Girl, by Shackleford
Last 3 Beyers: 89-94-83

◗ Danuska’s My Girl is 4 for 4 under jockey Geovanni Franco, who has the call again Saturday.

Yuvetsi, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 43-54-92

◗ She had an excuse for her 20-length comeback loss. “She just didn’t have a good week,” Sadler said. “She might have been a little tense early in the week.”