The Intercontinental (Grade 2)- $250.00 Purse
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Five and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
June 4, 2026

Older female turf sprinters had their chance in the spotlight on Thursday in the Grade 2 Intercontinental, and the finish would be very tight amongst the top four finishers. Getting the nod by a nose was Stellar Strength as she held on for a wire-to-wire victory. The six year old mare is trained by Mb Stables, who wins his third Intercontinental trophy. His prior wins came in 2020 with Four Left Feet and in 2024 with A Lot To Say. The winning rider is J R Velazquez, who also wins the race for the third time. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:02.41, which is the fastest of the three editions of the race held here at the Spa. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.24)- Stellar Strength lives up to her name right from the gate, as the eventual winner from Mb Stables quickly pulls in front to a clear length advantage. It’s her stablemate, Rum, right behind her, as Mb Stables hopes his horses going 1-2 at the start of this race works out better than it did in the BEL Gold Cup right before this. Sweet Dilemma is third for Maxmillion Farm, but will begin a run around the turn while four wide. Code Red And Ready, from Ajm Stables, is a close enough to keep from moving in closer while being three wide herself. To their inside are Frozen Mist (Maxmillion Farm) and Emily (Nakamura Stables). Behind them, it’s a length and a half to When Doves Cry (Big Jd Racing) and Borgin And Burkes (Delta Farms). Behind them is the trailer, Smokin Cherie (TwinTowersRacing).

(½ Mile- :44.99, Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Stellar Strength handles the turn very well, and will enter the stretch trying to pull away from the rest of the field. She’s now up by two over Rum and Code Red And Ready, who run evenly for that position, and from them it’s a length to Frozen Mist and Emily. Sweet Dilemma begins to drop back. Meanwhile, on the far outside, Borgin And Burkes is getting set to take her best shot, but surely being four lengths back at this point is too much of a deficit. When Doves Cry is a similar distance back, and it’s about another two to Smokin Cherie.

(Finish- 1:02.41)- With a furlong to go, it certainly did not seem like we were in for a close finish. Stellar Strength seemed comfortably in front, but in the closing moments, she was beginning to tire, and rivals were looking to capitalize. Emily, closest to her was gaining, and near the rail, When Doves Cry was flying trying to get both of them. On the far outside, Borgin And Burkes, who once seem to be too far out of it was furiously coming on. Supporters of Stellar Strength screamed for the wire to hurry up and get there, and when they hit the finish line, four of them were in very close proximity. A photo would be needed for all of them to determine our final running order, and it would show that the wire did indeed get there just in time for Stellar Strength as she wins by a nose over Borgin And Burkes, with that one a neck in front of a third place dead heat between When Doves Cry and Emily. It was only half a length to fifth place Code Red And Ready, as well. Frozen Mist and Rum were next, with Smokin Cherie and Sweet Dilemma rounding it out.

About The Winner- Stellar Strength, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden to victory by JR Velazquez, is a six year old mare by Neon Wolf and is out of Storm Allies. She was bred in California by Fractious as a first quarter two year old, and was acquired by Mb Stables for $65.50 in the September 2022 auction while she was still unraced. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her thirteenth in 32 starts, her eighth stake win and fourth graded win. Her career earnings are now $2,214.07.

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES