Ruby Nell stands out in Lady of Shamrock Stakes

Ruby Nell’s only losses in her last six starts since late May have been in Grade 1 races at Del Mar in August and November.

The other four wins include two stakes, a fine record that will leave her favored in Sunday’s $100,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Even her most recent loss, when fifth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf on Dec. 3 at Del Mar, casts Ruby Nell in a positive light. She was the best-placed runner in a field of 12 not trained by Chad Brown.

Ruby Nell closed from eighth in that field to lose by two lengths to Surge Capacity. Ruby Nell won with an opposite racing style when she led throughout the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.

In the Autumn Miss, Ruby Nell finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of Anisette, who returned to win the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old fillies on Tuesday at Santa Anita. In August, Ruby Nell was fourth behind Anisette in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Ruby Nell was considered for the $302,000 American Oaks, but trainer Richard Mandella opted for the Lady of Shamrock. He expressed a slight regret on Friday for not attempting the more lucrative race.

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“I’m a little frustrated,” Mandella said. “She might have been galloping along pretty nice on the front end.”

Ruby Nell has never raced at 1 1/4 miles, but there is no doubt about her effectiveness at a mile.

“This seems more likely,” Mandella said.

Ruby Nell, owned by Spendthrift Farm, is part of a field of seven in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes, which is being held for the second time this calendar year. The race was run in February and has been moved forward on the calendar of the track’s winter-spring meeting this winter.

Princess Bettina, trained by Peter Eurton, was third in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes in February and later won the China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf in March by leading throughout.

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Princess Bettina has not started in California since the China Doll. She was winless in two starts in stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher in Pennsylvania and New York in June and July. Princess Bettina has worked quickly in recent weeks, including a half-mile in 47 seconds on Christmas morning.

“I can’t complain about the way she’s training,” Eurton said. “We’ll see if she’s good enough.”

Frankie Dettori rode Princess Bettina in the China Doll and regains the mount Sunday. Eurton said Dettori will determine whether Princess Bettina is sent forward or races from a stalking position.

“You don’t tell him a lot of what to do,” Eurton said of Dettori.

Justique, who drew the outside post, can be a factor as a closer, but has yet to challenge Ruby Nell. Justique was fifth behind Ruby Nell in the Unzip Me Stakes for turf sprinters Oct. 1, and fourth in the Autumn Miss.

The Lady of Shamrock Stakes is the turf stakes debut for the recent winners Anacaro and Cliquish. Anacaro, trained by Rolando Quinonez, led throughout a maiden race at a mile on dirt on Aug. 31 at Del Mar in her last start. Cliquish was the attractive winner of an allowance race at a mile on dirt on Nov. 23 at Del Mar after stalking the pace.

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