Super Shine, an Argentine-bred horse, places second in her US debut.
She doesn't follow her name, Coffee in Bed; she prefers to go outside and work out every day. She was set back when Santa Anita's winter rains interrupted her plans. However, Coffee in Bed is presently in fine form thanks to Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, as she showed when she won her first stakes on April 21 in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2).
Trainer Phil D'Amato appeared to have Santa Maria surrounded with three good ones, including multiple graded winner Desert Dawn, the 3-5 favourite in the 1 1/16-mile race. Super Shine, trained by D'Amato and a numerous group winner in her home Argentina making her US debut, was the second pick, going off as the 3-1 second choice, while Coffee in Bed was the third choice at 4-1. The other four in the field were in double figures.
Longshot Princess Bettina and Super Shine battled for the early lead; Super Shine finished first in the quarter-mile segment with a time of :22.66, while Princess Bettina took first place in the half-mile with a time of :46.64. Mike Smith's Coffee in Bed finished second to last in the early race.
"Although we settled back a little, we were hung out a little wide," stated Smith. "She seems happy. She was travelling at a really pleasant and contented pace."
Coffee in Bed and Desert Dawn drew three wides alongside leader Super Shine in the second round. Coffee in Bed seized a tiny lead at the eighth pole, yet Super Shine didn't want to relinquish. After a sprint to the finish line, Coffee in Bed defeated Super Shine by a small margin in 1:45.16. Third place went to Desert Dawn, a half length behind.
Mandella prepares Coffee in bed for Spendthrift Farm. The 4-year-old filly broke her maiden for Smith in her first appearance when she started her career early in her 3-year-old season last year. Mandella has progressively advanced her up the ranks; on January 20, she finished second to Desert Dawn in the La Canada Stakes (G3), earning her first stakes placement. Coffee in Bed placed sixth in the Beholder Mile (G1) at her most recent race.
Mandella stated, "She's always had a lot of ability." She has a somewhat sensitive mentality. She's the one that ties up when the racetrack is closed due to inclement weather. She needs to be trained daily by you. Over the winter, it was like a juggling match."
According to Mandella, Coffee in Bed might move on to the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) on May 26.
At the 2021 Keeneland September yearling auction, Spendthrift, acting as a representative for breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, purchased Coffee in Bed from Elm Tree Farm for $500,000. As the dam of graded winner Great Stuff and stakes-placed Decant, Stonestreet bred the filly in Kentucky from the multiple stakes-placed Hennessy mare Sumptuous.
Timelos, Raging Sea, Coffee in Bed, and Otello are the 2024 stakes winners, all of which are descended from two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Eclipse Award winners Vino Rosso, Malathaat, Elite Power, Good Magic, Stellar Wind, and Nest are among the stallion's previous runners. Curlin is a candidate for a $250,000 stud fee at Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which is close to Paris, Kentucky.