What is the Intercontinental Stakes?
The Intercontinental Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is one of the premier turf sprint tests for older distaff horses in the Northeast and a key early-summer benchmark for fillies and mares targeting the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The race was inaugurated in 2014 at Belmont Park and is named in honor of Intercontinental, the 2005 American Champion Female Turf Horse who won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf that year for trainer Bobby Frankel and owner Godolphin. Originally contested at seven furlongs, the race was shortened to six furlongs in 2022 and to its current 5½ furlongs in 2024 when it moved to Saratoga. Upgraded to Grade II in 2024, the Intercontinental has grown into one of the most competitive distaff turf sprints on the American calendar, regularly attracting top horses from Europe and North America.
When is the Intercontinental Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Intercontinental Stakes is scheduled for Thursday, June 4 at Saratoga Race Course as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the turf with a purse of $200,000, the race draws the top older fillies and mares from North America and Europe targeting the summer turf sprint championship circuit.
Intercontinental Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Intercontinental has produced some of the most electric turf sprint performances in recent memory. Pipsy (IRE) set the stakes record of 1:00.98 under Jose Ortiz in 2025 for trainer William Walden, becoming only the second horse in the race's history to run sub-1:01 at the 5½-furlong distance. Future Is Now gave trainer Michael Trombetta and jockey Paco Lopez a 2024 win in 1:01.35 for the late R. Larry Johnson. Poppy Flower gave trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jose Ortiz their first Intercontinental title in 2023 at six furlongs in 1:08.53. Caravel set the stakes record at six furlongs of 1:07.59 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Tyler Gaffalione in 2022. Change of Control gave trainer Michelle Lovell a surprise 2021 win at seven furlongs under Colby Hernandez in 1:22.07.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Pipsy (IRE) | Jose Ortiz | 1:00.98* |
| 2024 | Future Is Now | Paco Lopez | 1:01.35 |
| 2023 | Poppy Flower | Jose Ortiz | 1:08.53** |
| 2022 | Caravel | Tyler Gaffalione | 1:07.59** |
| 2021 | Change of Control | Colby Hernandez | 1:22.07*** |
* Stakes record at 5½ furlongs. ** Run at 6 furlongs. *** Run at 7 furlongs.
The Intercontinental Stakes is the premier distaff turf sprint of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and one of the most important early-summer tests for older fillies and mares in North America.
