Coffee in bed doesn’t live up to her name – she loves to go out and workout every day. When it rains in winter at Santa Anita disrupt her schedule, it sets her back. But Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella now has Coffee in Bed in excellent form, as she showed when winning her first stakes stakes, the April 21 Santa Maria Stakes (G2).
Trainer Phil D’Amato appears to have surrounded Santa Maria with three good ones, including multiple graded winners Desert dawn , a 3-5 favorite in the 1/16-mile race. D’Amato is trained super shine , a multiple group winner in her native Argentina making her U.S. debut, was selected as second choice at 3-1, while Coffee in Bed was third choice at 4-1 . The remaining four in the field are in double figures.
Super Shiny and long range Princess Bettina vying for the early lead, Super Shine was responsible for the first quarter-mile in :22.66 and the Princess Bettina half-mile in :46.64. Coffee in Bed, driven by Mike Smith, raced to the finish line early.
“Even though we were back a little bit, we were going out a little bit,” Smith said. “She seemed happy there. She was moving at a very good pace and having fun.”
On the second turn, Desert Dawn and Coffee in Bed pulled leader Super Shine, Coffee in Bed three wide. Coffee in Bed grabbed the lead in eighth place, although Super Shine was reluctant to give in. Those two raced for the ropes and Coffee in Bed edged Super Shine in 1:45.16. Desert Dawn finished half a length in third place.
“She showed up today,” Smith added.
Mandella trains Bed Coffee for Consumer Farms. The 4-year-old filly began her career at the start of her 3-year-old season last year, breaking Smith’s maiden in her first outing. Mandella has gradually worked her up the ladder and she earned her early stakes when she finished second to Desert Dawn in the January 20 La Canada Stakes (G3). In her most recent outing , Coffee in Bed finished sixth in the Beholder Mile (G1).
“She always had so much ability,” Mandella said. “She’s a sensitive mind. During the rains, when they close the racetrack here, she’s the one in a bind. You have to train her every day. It’s like a toss-up match.” excited all winter.”
Mandella says the May 26 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) could be next for Coffee in Bed.
Spend purchased Coffee in Bed for $500,000 at the September 2021 Keeneland yearling sale from Elm Tree Farm as dealer for breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Stonestreet bred Kentucky filly horses from many stakes placed Hennessy mare Luxury also the dam of the graded winner Great tool and bet decant .
Coffee in bed, Coast , Zeitlos And Otello are the 2024 stakes winners who have been selected twice by Horse of the Year curled up . The stallion’s previous runners include Eclipse Award champions Vino Rosso , Malathaat , Elite strength , Good magic , Star Wind And Nest . Curlin represents a 2024 studentship of $250,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Paris, Ky.
Videotapes: Santa Maria S. (G2)
