2017 Intercontinental Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Belmont Park in Elmont, New York will play host to the G3 Intercontinental Stakes on Thursday, June 8. Fillies and mares four years old and upward will be featured when they take to Belmont Park's turf track and race seven furlongs.

A strong field of 11 will take to the track in the Intercontinental Stakes - race 8 on Belmont Park's Thursday schedule. Post time is 5:48 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 11 entries for this rare Thursday G3 stakes.

2017 Intercontinental Stakes Entries at Belmont Park

Take These Chains

Irish bred Chad Brown trained filly has three career starts and three wins - the last two coming on this track. Last time out was in an Allowance Optional Claiming April 28 at this distance after eighth months away, an Allowance Optional Claiming score last June 24 and a maiden score at first asking - at Gulfstream in March, 2016. Take These Chains looks to remain undefeated in her step up in competition - from post 9 with Javier Castellano guiding her.

Conquest Babayaga

Lightly raced Chad Brown filly has four wins and a second-place finish in her six career starts. She enters on a nice three race win streak on three different tracks - an Allowance at Keeneland April 20, an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream February 19 and another Allowance at Woodbine in September. Before that was a fifth in her only graded stakes action to date - the G2 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream in January, 2016. Conquest Babayaga arrives in career best form, is undefeated on grass and chases her first graded stakes score from post 7 with Joel Rosario aboard.

Bet Belmont Park Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Mississippi Delta

defending sixth place finisher in this race - Mark Casse trained mare has six wins, three seconds and a third-place finishes in 18 career starts but has looked pedestrian in the other seven. She enters off a fourth in the G2 Churchill Distaff Mile May 6, a decent second behind the very good Celestine in the G2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream April 1, an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track February 24 and a pair of disappointing results - a twelfth in the G3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland in October and a tenth in the G1 First Lady Stakes on that track October 8. Before that was a good win in the minor Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint September 10, an OK third in the G3 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine July 31 and a fourth in the minor Perfect Sting Stakes July 2 at Belmont Park. She also posted consecutive runner up finishes in graded stakes action at this time last year - in the G2 Nassau Stakes May 29 and in the G2 Honey Fox Stakes. Mississippi Delta slumped at the end of 2016 but has looked decent in the lead-up to this weekend. Jose Lezcano tries to keep the roll going from post 5.

Nobody's Fault

Has 10 career starts for trainer Neil Pessin with four wins and two second place finishes. Last time out was a nice win in the minor Unbridled Sidney Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs May 13 which followed consecutive runner-up finishes - behind Lady Aurelia the minor Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland April 15 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Fair Grounds March 26. Her only two graded stakes starts resulted in a fifth in the G3 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes at Keeneland in October and a twelfth in the G3 Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington in August. Nobody's Fault has two wins and two runner-up finishes in her last four starts overall and will be chasing a fist graded stakes score from gate 10. Florent Geroux gets the call.

Josdesanimaux

multiple stakes winning Ralph Nicks trained mare has 16 career starts with five wins, a second and a third-place finish. Last time out was a fourth in the G2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park April 1 which followed a third behind Mississippi Delta and Inside Out in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track February 24, a nice win in the minor Panama City Stakes at Gulfstream in October and four straight off-the-board finishes in stakes action including a seventh in the G3 Royal North Stakes in July, a fourth in the G3 Mint Julep Stakes last June and a fifth in the G3 Gallorette Handicap last May. Josdesanimaux shoots for a first graded stakes score Saturday in OK recent form. John Velazquez will be in the reins from gate 2.

Rapid Rhythm

has 20 career starts for trainer Michael Stidham with eight wins, a second and a third-place finish. She arrives off a disappointing sixth in the minor Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland April 15 after three straight minor stakes scores - the Mardi Gras Stakes February 28, the Battle of New Orleans Stakes December 3 (both at Fair Grounds) and the Oakley Stakes at Laurel Park in September. Her only graded stakes action resulted in a sixth in the G2 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine last July. Rapid Rhythm has won three of her last four starts overall and will be after a first graded stakes score from post 3 Saturday. James Graham rides.

Portmagee

Has placed in all five career starts for trainer Christophe Clement - three wins and two third place finishes. She steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off a nice gate-to-wire win in the minor Licence Fee Stakes on this track April 30 and another win in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream March 19. Before that was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream February 5 and a win and a third in a pair of MSW races at Gulfstream to start her career last summer. Portmagee has been impressive so far and hopes her success against lesser company translates in her step up in competition. Irad Ortiz is scheduled to ride from gate 8.

Fair Point

Shug McGaughey trained Mare has placed in 13 of 15 career starts - five wins, seven seconds and a third-place finish. She enters off a fourth in the minor Licence Fee Stakes on this track April 30 after a good win in the G3 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at Santa Anita in November, a second in the G3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland in October and a nice two race win streak - the minor Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga August 28 and an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track August 5. Fair Point has placed in seven of her last eight starts overall with four wins over that span and should to be competitive again from gate 4. Jose Ortiz has been tabbed to ride.

Outsider Art

Won her first two career starts for trainer Jonathan Sheppard and has 12 starts since - she has six third place finishes in those starts. Last time out was a disappointing eighth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Pimlico May 19 which followed a second in an Allowance at Keeneland April 21, a third in the minor Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel Park in November and a seventh in the G3 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes at Keeneland in October. Before that was an eighth in the minor Dueling Ground Oaks September 11, a fifth in the G2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga August 21, a third in the G2 Lake George Stakes on that track July 22 and two more thirds - in the minor Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park July 6 and in the minor Penn Oaks. Other results include consecutive thirds in graded stakes action in 2016 - the G3 Appalachian Stakes in April and the G3 Jessamine Stakes in October. Outsider Art has been a tad difficult to figure out but has been decent at times. She tries to snap a twelve-race losing streak when she departs from the outside post 11 with Julien Leparoux guiding her.

Lady Valeur

Irish bred Patrick Gallagher trained filly has placed in nine of 14 career starts - four wins, four runner-ups and a third-place finish. Last time out was a win in the minor Golden Poopy Stakes at Golden Gate May 13 after a seventh in the G2 Royal Heroine Sakes at Santa Anita April 8 and an OK third in the G1 American Oaks on that track December 31. Before that was a victory in the minor Miss America Stakes at Golden Gate December 10, a fourth in the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes October 29 and a disappointing ninth in the G1 Del Mar Oaks August 20. She also had a respectable second behind Mokat in the G2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar July 23, a fifth in the G2 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita June 19, an impressive 1 1/2 length Allowance Optional Claiming score May 20 and another fifth in the G3 Providencia Stakes last April 9. Lady Valeur has been OK at times and searches for her first graded stakes win Saturday (second straight stakes) with Flavien Prat in the saddle from the rail.

Perfect Pic

Lightly raced James Cassidy trained filly has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in her nine career starts. She enters in less-than-spectacular form - a third last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anta May 19 followed a ninth in the minor Mizdirection Stakes on that track April 22, a seventh in the G1 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita March 18 and a two-race win streak- both Allowance Optional Claiming races in gate-to-wire fashion on that track with the last coming February 3. She also had a disappointing sixth in the G1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita December 26 and a third in her graded stakes debut - the G3 LA Woman Stakes on that track in October. Perfect Pic has been good against lesser company so far and will be out for a first ever stakes score from gate 6. Ricardo Santana has the mount.

---

2017 Intercontinental Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Belmont Park's Thursday card with a Post Time of 5:48 PM.