Ruby Nell an easy winner of the $100,000 Lady of Shamrock S.

Bolt d’Oro’s Ruby Nell finished 2023 on a high note with a front-running score in the $100,000 Lady of Shamrock S. on New Year’s Eve at Santa Anita Park.

Ruby Nell, who finished the year with three stakes wins in her last four starts, is one of eight 2023 stakes winners for Bolt d’Oro, who wrapped up the year in third on the Second-Crop sire list with $7.37 million in progeny earnings.

Ruby Nell was full of run from the start of Sunday’s one-mile turf race and led the field by 2 ½-lengths after a half-mile in :45.59. She maintained that margin for the next quarter-mile, then sprinted clear to win as she pleased by 4 ½-lengths in 1:34.01 on the firm turf.

“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,” said winning trainer Richard Mandella. “I just hope next year is as good as this year was.”

Ruby Nell is owned by Spendthrift Farm and was bred in Kentucky by Solana Beach Sales. The 3-year-old bay filly’s earnings now stand at $324,520.