Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella this week shared potential upcoming graded stakes assignments for three of his top fillies, Coffee in Bed, Ruby Nell, and Tamara. All three are owned by Spendthrift Farm.
Coffee in Bed became the newest graded stakes winner on Mandella's shedrow when prevailing by a neck in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares April 21. It was Coffee in Bed's fifth attempt at a stakes victory.
"That was very gratifying," Mandella said. "She's always made us think she's a pretty good filly."
Mandella added it hadn't been the smoothest of winters for Coffee in Bed. Weather-related interruptions to training had an effect on the 4-year-old Curlin filly.
"She's very delicate in her mind," Mandella said. "With fillies like that, when their training gets interrupted, they tend to tie up. It interfered with her making any real progress this winter."
Prior to her breakout win in the Santa Maria, Coffee in Bed was second in the La Canada Stakes (G3) Jan. 20 and sixth in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 9.
"In the last month, we haven't had those interruptions, and I was able to give her a nice, steady training regimen," Mandella said. "She ran the way she should the other day. It was a good feeling."
Coffee in Bed now has a record of 3-2-1 in nine starts with $253,860 in earnings. Next up will likely be the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles May 26, Mandella said.
Multiple graded stakes winner Ruby Nell is likely to make her next start in Santa Anita Park's Gamely Stakes (G1T) at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 27, Mandella said. In two previous grade 1 attempts, both last year, she was fourth in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) in August and fifth in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 3, both at Del Mar.
Most recently, Ruby Nell collected her fourth stakes win in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at a mile on turf March 3. The 4-year-old Bolt d'Oro filly has a record of 6-2-2 in 12 starts with $491,520 in earnings.
Regally bred Tamara is on the comeback trail after emerging from last November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with a hind leg injury. By Bolt d'Oro, out of Racing Hall of Fame mare Beholder, Tamara finished seventh as the 4-5 favorite in the Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park. It was later discovered she had a small fracture in her splint bone in her left hind. The injury did not require surgery.
Tamara returned to the work tab April 4. She has drilled four times for her comeback, including a three-furlong move in :37 April 22.
"She's doing very well," Mandella said. "She was pretty good when she left. We're hoping she comes back bigger and better."
Mandella added it would likely be "six weeks or so" before she returns to the races. While the Summertime Oaks (G2) June 8 at Santa Anita would fit in that timeline, Mandella ruled the race out.
"It will be something just to get her back started," he said.
Prior to the Breeders' Cup, Tamara won her debut at Del Mar Aug. 19 and came right back to score in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) Sept. 9.
GOLD PHOENIX, PLANETARIO AMONG Whittingham NOMS
There is an added incentive this for winning this year's Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T), which is set for May 4 at Santa Anita. Through a partnership between 1/ST Racing and the British Jockey Club, the winner of the 1 1/4-mile turf test will gain an automatic berth plus travel incentives to run in the historic Eclipse Stakes (G1) July 6 at Sandown Park in England.
Nominations for the Whittingham were released April 26. Of the 11 nominees, 10 are stakes winners with nine of those having won at the graded level.
Among the notable nominees are grade I winner Gold Phoenix for trainer Phil D'Amato, two-time American graded winner Planetario for Mandella, last year's Whittingham winner Offlee Naughty for trainer Michael McCarthy, and New York-based Rockemperor for trainer Chad Brown.
Also as part of the agreement between 1/ST and the British Jockey Club, the winner of the Eclipse Stakes earns an automatic berth and travel incentives for Santa Anita's $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship (G2T) Sept. 28.
Entries for the Whittingham will be taken May 1.
NEWGATE, ADARE MANOR RETURN TO WORK FOR BAFFERT
Newgate, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 3, had his first work since a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) March 30. Also returning to the work tab for trainer Bob Baffert was Adare Manor, who won the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park two weeks ago.
Newgate and Adare Manor each worked four furlongs on the main track. Newgate completed his move in :49 while Adare Manor was timed in :48.
Also working for Baffert was Du Jour, who was entered to run in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland April 12 but was scratched. Winner of the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1) March 3 at Santa Anita, Du Jour worked four furlongs in :48 1/5.
Continuing to work for her 4-year-old debut was Anisette, a two-time grade I winner on turf for trainer Leonard Powell. The Awtaad filly went five furlongs on the main track in 1:03 1/5. It was her fourth work this month.
Anisette most recently won the American Oaks (G1T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Last summer she also won the Del Mar Oaks and San Clemente Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.
Johannes, who returned as good as ever when taking the American Stakes (G3T) off an 11-month layoff April 4, worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01 for trainer Tim Yakteen. Prior to the layoff, the 4-year-old Nyquist colt won both the Baffle Stakes in March 2023 and Pasadena Stakes in April 2023 at Santa Anita.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
