Seasoning may give Skye Diamonds edge in Rancho Bernardo

DEL MAR, Calif. – Skye Diamonds was challenged early and late in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes on July 7 at Los Alamitos and held second in the top sprint of the summer for females in Southern California.

“She never got a breather and she hung around,” trainer Bill Spawr said. “She never gave up.”

Skye Diamonds also was beaten for the fifth consecutive time, a span that includes a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last November.

On Sunday, Skye Diamonds returns to Del Mar for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup as she tries to win the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes for the second straight year.

Spawr, for one, believes Skye Diamonds is capable of regaining her winning form, despite expected challenges from the 3-year-old Moonshine Memories, a two-time Grade 1 winner; and Anonymity, a rapidly improving 4-year-old who will start in a stakes for the first time.

The $100,000 Rancho Bernardo is run at 6 1/2 furlongs and drew a field of six.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Skye Diamonds, by First Dude

Last 3 Beyers: 88-74-94

◗ Skye Diamonds was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Marley’s Freedom in the Great Lady M. Stakes. Marley’s Freedom is expected to start in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

◗ In the Great Lady M., Skye Diamonds was within a length of the lead until the final sixteenth. She dueled with Phantom Proton and Turkish Tabby through the first half-mile and led briefly in early stretch before Marley’s Freedom closed from last of five to take control.

“She’d put the fresh one away and the next one would come up,” Spawr said.

◗ Skye Diamonds, 5, races for Allen Racing, Bloom Racing, Jon Lindo, and Tom Acker. Skye Diamonds has the most wins (9), starts (21), and earnings ($618,150) in the Rancho Bernardo field. Spawr is hopeful experience will work in Skye Diamonds’s favor.

“I wonder, the younger ones that are up and coming, are they that good?” he said. “She will test them.”

Anonymity, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-79

◗ There will be massive support for Anonymity, who has won consecutive optional claimers, one at Santa Anita in June and one here July 29. In each race, Anonymity disputed the pace and pulled away.

“She’s naturally fast,” said jockey Flavien Prat, who has the mount Sunday.

Moonshine Memories, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 86-81-80

◗ Moonshine Memories also is a winner at this meeting, in an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs on July 19. The Rancho Bernardo Handicap will be her eighth start, and first against older fillies and mares.

◗ There is a chance Moonshine Memories will be withdrawn in favor of the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes on Sept. 3 at Saratoga.

“I think it’s a good chance we’ll run,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

◗ Mike Smith will ride Moonshine Memories for the first time since her debut win here last August. Moonshine Memories later won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes before finishing seventh as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles here last November. All three of her races this year have come at one turn.