COFFEE IN BED GETS ELUSIVE GRADED STAKES WIN IN GII, $200,000 SANTA MARIA STAKES FOR OLDER FILLIES AND MARES AT 1 1/16 MILES

Curlin filly scores by a neck for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella

ARCADIA, CA (April 21, 2024)—Coffee in Bed earned a breakthrough victory Sunday when narrowly prevailing in the GII, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Coffee in Bed (4-1) made a three-wide move on the second turn and wore down a stubborn Super Shine to score by a neck. Desert Dawn, the 3-5 favorite who raced wide down the backstretch and on the second turn, was another half-length back in third.

“Although we settled back a little, and were hung out a little wide, she seemed to be happy there,” Smith said. “She was at a really nice, happy cruising speed. I said, ‘I’ll stay out of the way and let her do what she does best.’ And she showed up today.”

Coffee in Bed earned her first graded stakes win in her fifth attempt for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. In two previous starts this year, the 4-year-old Curlin filly was beaten a length by Desert Dawn when second the GIII La Canada here Jan. 20 and was a disappointing sixth most recently in the GI Beholder Mile March 9 at Santa Anita.

“The boys and the girls at the barn have really worked with her in the mornings,” Mandella said. “They have done a great job, the groom, Taylor the assistant, my son and Jose Contreras does a good job riding her. I couldn’t do all of this without all those guys.”

Super Shine (7-2), with Frankie Dettori up, was making her U.S. debut for trainer Phil D’Amato. A multiple group stakes winner in her native Argentina, Super Shine broke alertly and was part of a four-horse scrum for the early lead. Longshot Princess Bettina emerged in leaving the first turn, but Dettori and Super Shine soon took control down the backstretch.

“She jumped good, nobody was faster than me, so I had to go,” Dettori said.

Coffee in Bed and Desert Dawn, who had settled in mid-pack early, each uncorked wide moves on the turn for home. Desert Dawn soon lost her momentum through the lane, but Coffee in Bed and Super Shine each dug in gamely with the former ultimately prevailing.

“(Coffee in Bed) always had me,” Dettori said. “The last sixteenth she really poured it out for me. It was her first time here. I couldn’t ask for more. She ran great.”

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Coffee In Bed returned $10.40, $4.60 and $2.40. As the second choice in the wagering, Super Shine returned $4.60 and $2.40 and Desert Dawn paid $2.10 to show.

Coffee In Bed improved to 9: 3-2-1 with $253,860 in earnings. In two graded stakes tries last year, she was fourth in the GIII Torrey Pines at Del Mar and fifth in the GIII Autumn Miss at the Santa Anita Autumn Meet.

Fractions on the race were 22,66, 46.64, 1:11.56, 1:38.35, final time 1:45.16.

Live racing resumes with Friday with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m.