Darya edges stablemate Inbox for a D’Amato-trained exacta in the Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on turf Saturday at Santa Anita

DARYA EDGES STABLEMATE INBOX FOR A D’AMATO-TRAINED EXACTA IN THE HONEYMOON STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (June 6, 2026)—Darya nailed stablemate Inbox in the final stride to score by a nose and lead a Phil D’Amato-trained exacta in the $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on turf Saturday at Santa Anita. Darya and Inbox were both imported from Ireland and are co-owned by Little Red Feather Racing.

Darya (6-1) and Inbox (3-1) both rallied from near the back of the pack to sweep the top two spots. Inbox, ridden by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario for the first time, seized the lead in mid-stretch but could not hold off her fast-closing stablemate. It was the first stakes win for Darya, who was ridden by Hector Berrios for the first time.

“It looked like I got there, but that other horse was coming on strong,” Rosario said. “It’s tough to get beat like that. My filly ran a good race.”

Darya, by Persian King, won in a time of 1:35.64 following fractions of 23.46, 47.90 and 1:11.85. Finishing 1 ½ lengths back of the winner in third was Lookin At Diamond.

“That was an amazing finish,” Berrios said. “Phil told me to get her to relax and don’t move early. I waited and waited, and in the stretch, I asked her and she responded. I moved her to the outside and she finished very well.”

Darya made one start in her native Ireland before coming stateside. She graduated in her second start going 1 1/8 miles on turf in March and came back to finish fifth, beaten just one length, in the 1 1/8-mile Providencia on April 5.

“To be honest, I was looking at Inbox the whole time,” D’Amato said. “I didn’t even see where Darya came from. I just heard the call late and next thing you know, it was a photo finish. Very exciting. I’m proud of both those fillies, they have come a long way. Both broke their maidens here, developed and now one’s a stake winner and the other is stakes placed. Onward and upwards. Del Mar here we come.”

Darya is owned by Little Red Feather, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.

“I credit Phil and his team,” Billy Koch of Little Red Feather said. “He had her ready to run today and Inbox ran a huge race as well. Kintrigue (also co-owned by Little Red Feather and trained by D’Amato) set the pace and she really tried hard. it’s just great to be here.”

Darya paid $14.40, $5.40 and $3.40. Inbox returned $4.40 and $3.40. Lookin At Diamond, ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Leonard Powell, paid $3.20.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a 10-race card starting at 1 p.m.