ONE Santa Anita Park allowed to return to their homeland Ruby Nell to return to her winning ways when she won the $202,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) on March 3.
Last seen on January 27 at Gulfstream Park In the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T), Ruby Nell did not take her customary lead position, leading to traffic problems at the far turn. Still walking along the small road, my 4-year-old daughter Bolt d’Oro would finish third behind the race winner Didia .
Trainer Richard Mandella felt responsible for the performance because he feared he had given too much instruction to jockey Frankie Dettori.
“I worry about her opening up too much in that area,” Mandella said. “I admit my mistake there.”
Reunited with regular jockey Edwin Maldonado, who missed Pegasus with a shoulder injury, Ruby Nell’s game plan was revised in Buena Vista and she was allowed to run at will.
Outstandingly clear of the nine-horse field, Ruby Nell inherited the lead, a task made easier by the expected arrival of the pace challenger in the morning Kiss of fire . Stakes winner Megahertz (G3T) leads the way Bellabel happy to get it back and follow up on second place.
Maldonado made sure to stay out of his way as they ran through fractions of :23.55, :46.88 and 1:10.81 while opening up a four-way lead after half a mile.
“I just let her do her thing,” Maldonado said. “Even if you fight her, she will do her own thing, so I just let her do her thing.”
Taking a breather as they entered the far turn, Ruby Nell headed home still more than two lengths from Bellabel. moffy who without blinking was much more comfortable than he was on the second February 3 in Megahertz, coming in with a strong rally and inching closer with every stride.
Despite the ever-narrowing margin, Ruby Nell’s victory was never in doubt as her early footwork created a cushion large enough to hold Mouffy’s legs by three-quarters of a length. The distance was completed in a time of 1:35.01 on a course rated as good. Nadette flew 12 stages away to finish third.
Ruby Nell paid $3.60 as the favorite for her second graded stakes win, having previously won the Miss Fall Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita on May 5. 11. Her career record is now 6-2-2 in 12 starts with earnings of $491,520.
Rain pushed Buena Vista back a day, and also severely affected the training schedule of California horses since the beginning of the new year.
“I never doubted that Ruby would win,” Mandella said after his fourth Buena Vista victory. “The training schedule for these horses over the past few weeks has been tough. I’m very proud that she handled it so well.”
Bred by Solana Beach Sales, Ruby Nell was purchased by Spending for $1.2 million in the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-Year-Old Training sale.
Videotapes: Buena Vista S. (G2T)
