Ruby Nell, Maldonado reunite for front-running score in Buena Vista

ARCADIA, Calif. – The bold style Ruby Nell has often shown in winning four stakes since last October has made her a favorite for jockey Edwin Maldonado.

“She’s on top of the list,” he said.

Ruby Nell’s latest win came in Sunday’s Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. Taking her customary position at the front, Ruby Nell was a handful for Maldonado before holding off a late run from 5-1 Mouffy to win by three quarters of a length.

“She was staggering a little bit,” Maldonado said of the final furlong. “She gave me a little more.”

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Sent off favored, Ruby Nell ($3.60) was timed in 1:35.01 on a turf course rated "good" after rain on Saturday and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. The race was postponed from Saturday because of weather.

Ruby Nell led by as many as four lengths, while setting early fractions of 23.55 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.88 for a half-mile.

“She usually goes in 45,” Maldonado noted.

The $202,000 Buena Vista was Ruby Nell’s most prestigious stakes win, and her sixth victory in her 12th start for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella.

Sunday’s race was Ruby Nell’s first start since a third in the Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27. In that race, she was ridden by Frankie Dettori, who kept the 4-year-old filly in a stalking position. She was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Didia.

Maldonado missed the mount on Ruby Nell at Gulfstream Park after sustaining a shoulder injury earlier in January.

In the minutes before the Buena Vista, Maldonado gained confidence in Ruby Nell during warmups.

“I thought, she’s going to run good today,” he said.

Mouffy, second in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 3, closed from fourth under jockey Frankie Dettori to finish a clear second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 25-1 Nadette.

“Frankie gave her a super ride,” trainer Jonathan Thomas said of Mouffy. “She was second to a good filly.”

Nadette was followed in the order of finish by Be Your Best, Bellabel, Closing Remarks, Lucky Girl, Justique, and Lakota Spirit.

Ruby Nell, by Bolt d’Oro, has earned $491,520. Last fall at Santa Anita, she won consecutive starts in the Unzip Me Stakes, at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, and the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. Ruby Nell stalked the pace in the Unzip Me and led throughout the Autumn Miss.

After finishing fifth by two lengths in the Grade Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 3, Ruby Nell rebounded to lead throughout the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 31 in a prep for the Gulfstream Park race.

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