Intercontinental Stakes
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Belmont ParkElmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2014 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Inner Turf |
| Sponsor | MTV Solutions (2024) |
| Website | NYRA |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies and Mares, four years old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $200,000 (2021) |
The Intercontinental Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged four years old and older, over a distance of six furlongs on the turf held annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
History
The race was inaugurated in 2014[1] with a stakes purse of $100,000.[2]
The event is held on the Thursday before the Belmont Stakes as part of the Belmont Racing Festival.[3]
In 2017 the event was classified as Grade III.[2]
The race is named after American Champion Female Turf Horse for 2005 Intercontinental who in that year won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[4]
In 2022 the distance of the event was decreased from seven furlongs to six furlongs.[2]
In 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade II status.[5] Also the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park and the distance of the event was decreased to 5+1⁄2 furlongs.[6]
Records
Speed record:
- 6 furlongs: 1:07.59 - Caravel (2022)
- 7 furlongs: 1:19.83 - Significant Form (2019)
Largest margin of victory:
- 3+1⁄2 lengths - Zindaya (2015)
Most wins:
- 2 – Zindaya (2015, 2016)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2019, 2020)
- 2 –José Ortiz (2023, 2025)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Chad C. Brown (2016, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Saratoga | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Pipsy (IRE) | 4 | José Ortiz | William Walden | Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:00.98 | $200,000 | II | [7] |
| 2024 | Future Is Now | 4 | Paco Lopez | Michael Trombetta | R. Larry Johnson | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.35 | $200,000 | II | [8] |
| At Belmont Park | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Poppy Flower | 4 | José Ortiz | William Mott | Arnmore Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:08.53 | $200,000 | III | [9] |
| 2022 | Caravel | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brad H. Cox | Qatar Racing, Madaket Stables, & Marc Detampel | 6 furlongs | 1:07.59 | $200,000 | III | [10] |
| 2021 | Change of Control | 5 | Colby J. Hernandez | Michelle Lovell | Perry Harrison | 7 furlongs | 1:22.07 | $194,000 | III | [11] |
| 2020 | Newspaperofrecord (IRE) | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:22.71 | $100,000 | III | [12] |
| 2019 | Significant Form | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Stephanie Seymour Brant | 7 furlongs | 1:19.83 | $200,000 | III | [13] |
| 2018 | La Sardane (FR) | 4 | Flavien Prat | Neil D. Drysdale | Team Valor International | 7 furlongs | 1:20.04 | $200,000 | III | [14] |
| 2017 | Mississippi Delta | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Mark E. Casse | Mike Rutherford & Terry Green | 7 furlongs | 1:20.05 | $250,000 | III | [15] |
| 2016 | Zindaya | 5 | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds | 7 furlongs | 1:22.44 | $150,000 | Listed | [16] |
| 2015 | Zindaya | 4 | Manuel Franco | Christophe Clement | Regis Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.17 | $150,000 | [17] | |
| 2014 | Free as a Bird | 5 | Joel Rosario | Ian R. Wilkes | Elizabeth J. Valando | 7 furlongs | 1:20.52 | $100,000 | [18] | |
See also
References
- ^"INTERCONTINENTAL STAKES – BELMONT PARK, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ abc"Intercontinental S. Black Type – Thoroughbred FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD". equibase. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^"Belmont Park opens Wednesday, April 29; $10 million Belmont Stakes Racing Festival set for June 4–6 – Headlines – News | New York Racing Association – Aqueduct". www.nyra.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^"Wins – INTERCONTINENTAL". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^"TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^"NYRA sets 2024 calendar, with Belmont Stakes at Saratoga". nyra.com. New York Racing Association. January 24, 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^"2025 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^"2024 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^"2023 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^"2022 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^"2021 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^"2020 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^"2019 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"2018 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"2017 Intercontinental Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"2016 Intercontinental Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"2015 Intercontinental Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"2014 Intercontinental Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
