Ruby Nell sails to the win in her usual front-running style under regular rider Edwin Maldonado. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Richard Mandella rang up his second stakes win in the past two days on Sunday at Santa Anita, as his heavily favored Ruby Nell went to the front and never looked back, taking the $100,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes by 4 ½ lengths. With regular rider Edwin Maldonado up, the 3-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro got one mile on turf in 1:34.01.
A respectable fifth, beaten just two lengths in Del Mar’s Grade I Matriarch at one mile on turf Dec. 3, Ruby Nell was taking a big drop in class today and she relished the conditions, registering her fourth win from five tries over the Santa Anita lawn.
A similar gate to wire winner of the Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes at one mile on turf her two starts back on Nov. 5, Ruby Nell, who had also taken the Unzip Me Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course on Oct. 1, attracted a massive show pool of $141,144. Off as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite among a field of six sophomore fillies, she paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10.
A $1.2 million purchase as a yearling, Ruby Nell, who is out of the Not For Love mare Rich Love, is owned by Spendthrift Farm, LLC. In garnering her third stakes win, she improved her overall mark to 10-5-2-1. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she now has earnings of $304,520.
Far back early, Justique was next to last and on the move at the rail three furlongs out, about six lengths off the lead under Mike Smith. She angled out three-deep turning for home and finished well but was no threat to the winner.
The second choice at 8-1, Justique paid $3.80 and $3.20 while finishing two lengths clear of Irish Patsy.Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Irish Patsy, off at 11-1, paid $3.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.09, 45.59, 1:09.47 and 1:21.57.
Racing resumes with first post time for a special holiday nine-race card on Monday at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. Santa Anita will be offering $1 beer and sodas and $2 hot dogs.
$100,000 Lady Of Shamrock Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Edwin Maldonado, Ruby Nell, Winner: “My job was just to try to slow down as much as I could and just hang on. Even with a .45 fraction, I feel like she’s going slow because she’s got her ears pricked forward and was just waiting for me to ask her. I’d like to thank Richard (Mandella) and wish a Happy New Year for everybody.”
Trainer Quotes
Richard Mandella, Ruby Nell, Winner: “She is very good, but she also often shows she can relax and finish, so you kind of go with what works for her that day. She looked pretty comfortable at the half mile pole. I just hope next year is as good as this year was. Happy New Year to everyone.”
