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 with a stakes purse of $100,000.
The event is held on the Thursday before the Belmont Stakes as part of the Belmont Racing Festival.
In 2017 the event was classified as Grade III.
The race is named after American Champion Female Turf Horse for 2005 Intercontinental who in that year won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
In 2022 the distance of the event was decreased from seven furlongs to six furlongs.
In 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade II status. 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 furlongs.
Records Speed record: 6 furlongs: 1:07.59 - Caravel (2022) 7 furlongs: 1:19.83 - Significant Form (2019)
Largest margin of victory: lengths - Zindaya (2015)
Most wins: 2 – Zindaya (2015, 2016)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2019, 2020, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Chad C. Brown (2016, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Madaket Stables (2022, 2026)
Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga2026Roja4Irad Ortiz Jr.H. Graham MotionEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables furlongs1:00.44$250,000II2025Pipsy (IRE)4José OrtizWilliam WaldenWoodford Thoroughbreds LLC furlongs1:00.98$200,000II2024Future Is Now 4Paco Lopez Michael TrombettaR. Larry Johnson furlongs1:01.35$200,000II At Belmont Park2023Poppy Flower4José OrtizWilliam MottArnmore Thoroughbreds6 furlongs 1:08.53$200,000III2022Caravel 5Tyler GaffalioneBrad H. CoxQatar Racing, Madaket Stables, & Marc Detampel6 furlongs 1:07.59$200,000III2021Change of Control 5Colby J. HernandezMichelle LovellPerry Harrison7 furlongs1:22.07$194,000III2020Newspaperofrecord (IRE) 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables7 furlongs1:22.71$100,000III2019Significant Form4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownStephanie Seymour Brant7 furlongs1:19.83$200,000III2018La Sardane (FR)4Flavien PratNeil D. DrysdaleTeam Valor International7 furlongs1:20.04$200,000III2017Mississippi Delta5Jose LezcanoMark E. CasseMike Rutherford & Terry Green7 furlongs1:20.05$250,000III2016Zindaya5Javier CastellanoChad C. Browne Five Racing Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:22.44$150,000Listed 2015Zindaya4Manuel FrancoChristophe ClementRegis Racing7 furlongs1:22.17$150,000 2014Free as a Bird5Joel RosarioIan R. WilkesElizabeth J. Valando7 furlongs1:20.52$100,000
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References