For The Reporter

Diamonds R out-finished Bella Mia through the stretch and notched a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

With Leonel Camacho-Flores riding at 117 pounds, Diamonds R covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.96 on a fast track and paid $28.20, $9 and $4.60. Tom Wenzel is the winning trainer for owner Dr. George Todaro of Seattle, who also celebrated a birthday Sunday.

A Kentucky-bred by Alternation, Diamonds R was coming off back-to-back fourths in the Seattle Stakes and Kent Stakes, and improved dramatically on the stretch out. Her overall mark is 3-0-0 in eight starts with $62,563 in earnings, including $27,225 for Sunday’s victory.

Diamonds R stalked Bella Mia and Ima Happy Cat through a half-mile in :46.79, slipped through inside to challenge Bella Mia into the lane, and gradually put away the 4-to-5 favorite in a stretch-long battle.

Bella Mia, ridden by Julien Couton at 123 pounds, held second and paid $2.60 and $2.20. It was the first career route for the four-time stakes winner, whose career record is 5-2-0 in eight starts with earnings of $138,488.

Princessof the Nyl, second choice at 5-2, rallied belatedly for third and paid $2.40 to show. Kevin Orozco was aboard at 117 pounds.

Downwind, Assemble and Ima Happy Cat rounded out the order of finish. Ca Dreamer was a late scratch.

The $50,000 Washington Oaks at 1 1/8 miles is next for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, July 22.