Coffee in Bed digs deep to win Santa Maria S. (G2)

Coffee in Bed outdueled Super Shine (ARG) in a thrill stretch drive to win Sunday’s Santa Maria S. (G2) to give the Spendthrift Farm LLC’s colorbearer her first stakes victory.

Coffee in Bed was last of six early on, with Super Shine setting a half-mile pace of :46.64. Though she was well out into the middle of the track, Coffee in Bed began to make up ground entering the final turn, and by the time she turned for home, she was side by side with Super Shine. Those two battled the length of the stretch, with Coffee in Bed getting home a neck in front in 1:45.16 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast track.

“Although we settled back a little, and were hung out a little wide, she seemed to be happy there,” winning rider Mike 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.”

Trained by Richard Mandella, Coffee in Bed is 3-2-1 in nine starts and has earned $253,860.