Dettori to ride Ruby Nell in Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ruby Nell, the winner of three stakes in her last four starts, will have a new rider for the Grade 3 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 27.

Frankie Dettori will ride Ruby Nell in place of Edwin Maldonado, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday.

Maldonado, who has ridden Ruby Nell in her last six starts, sustained a shoulder injury during morning workouts on Jan. 6. While Maldonado plans to resume riding on Saturday, Mandella proceeded with the jockey change.

Ruby Nell, a 4-year-old filly owned by Spendthrift Farm, won the Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on Dec. 31 as the 1-5 favorite. She led throughout and pulled away to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

Last fall, Ruby Nell won the Unzip Me Stakes for turf sprinters and the Autumn Miss at a mile on turf before she finished fifth by two lengths in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 3.

The $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational is run at 1 1/16 miles.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.