Who will be lucky lady in L.A. Woman?

Anonymity and Selcourt were good enough to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year at Churchill Downs, and both are trying to get back to the race this year at their home track of Santa Anita.

There are questions, though, over whether both are as good as they were a year ago. Perhaps some answers will be gleaned on Saturday, when both seek their first win of the year in the Grade 3, $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita.

Although the L.A. Woman is not a Win and You’re In toward the Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 2, it is still a critically important race as it is run over the same track where the Breeders’ Cup will be held. Both Anonymity and Selcourt have impressive records at Santa Anita, but their current form is open to question. Four others – including the vastly improved Lady Ninja – will take them on going 6 1/2 furlongs, a sixteenth of a mile short of the Breeders’ Cup distance.

Anonymity finished second in this race last year and it propelled her to a close third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup. This year, Anonymity has been limited to two starts following a layoff necessitated by injury.

“We took a chip out of a knee after the Breeders’ Cup,” said her trainer, Richard Mandella.

After eight months on the sidelines, Anonymity was second in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos, then second to Danuska’s My Girl in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar, both at the L.A. Woman distance of 6 1/2 furlongs. She got a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 both times. Her career best is 94.

“I thought her last race was good, just needed a little farther,” Mandella said. “I’d prefer wins. We’re looking to break through.”

Anonymity has finished first or second in all three of her races at Santa Anita, but she has not won in five starts since July 2018. Her regular rider, Flavien Prat, is at Keeneland on Saturday, so Victor Espinoza – who rode her in her first two races, including her debut win – returns.

Selcourt is making her first start since March, when she was sent two turns for the first time in her career and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. She has a history of running well fresh. She breezed home in her debut in February 2017, and in January 2018 romped in her first start in eight months.

Selcourt has finished first or second in seven of nine starts at Santa Anita, but she is winless in four starts since her last victory, in March 2018. She carries top weight of 125 pounds, two more than Anonymity.

Lady Ninja is a dangerous rival. She had won four of her prior six races before finishing a troubled third last time out in the Rancho Bernardo, rallying well after a horrendous start. She has won five times in nine starts at Santa Anita.

Flor de la Mar, Show It N Moe It, and Streak of Luck round out the field.

The L.A. Woman, named for the popular Doors song, goes as race 5 on the 10-race card.