Darya noses stablemate Inbox to take Honeymoon Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. – A pair of dainty European fillies who have steadily filled out since arriving in California have emerged as prominent summer turf fillies for trainer Phil D’Amato.
The stablemates Darya and Inbox finished one-two in the $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, separated by a nose in the mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
Lookin at Diamond finished third; 8-5 favorite Light Won Up, a sprint stakes winner, finished fourth in her first route try. Light Won Up might have distance limitations.
D’Amato started four in the Honeymoon, but Darya ($14.40) and Inbox (3.40-1 third betting choice) were the most fancied. D’Amato trainees Dreaming of Alys and Kintrigue and finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
Even though Darya and Inbox finished fifth and fourth last out in the $100,000 Providencia Stakes, D’Amato believed both had an excuse.
“I was really high on them going into the last race, and they just had no pace to run at,” D’Amato said. “Today, they had a lot.”
Hector Berrios took Darya off the pace that was set by Kintrigue, and rallied to the win in 1:35.64. It was her second win from four U.S. starts, and five starts total. D’Amato said both Darya and Inbox changed since arriving in California.
“They came in like dainty European fillies, and both have just kind of steadily filled out and gotten stronger, and both ran well today,” D’Amato said.
Inbox, ridden by Joel Rosario, was making just her third U.S. start and fourth overall. She got the jump over her stablemate, but got collared on the wire. Both fillies are likely to meet again this summer at Del Mar. The Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap, a mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, is scheduled for July 18.
“That would be the most logical, the San Clemente and hopefully the (Grade 1) Del Mar Oaks,” D’Amato said. The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks is Aug. 22.
The top three finishers all rallied from the back of the field in a race that fell apart up front. Kintrigue was done at the quarter pole; Darya, Inbox and Lookin at Diamond rallied from eighth, seventh and sixth, respectively.
Darya is owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.
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