When Bobby Frankel decided to send Intercontinental after the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1), many of the “wise guys” were scratching their heads, noting that the mare had never gone 10 furlongs before and was considered essentially a miler. Frankel had the last laugh, however, as the full sister to 2001 Filly and Mare Turf winner Banks Hill took the lead from the outset and never surrendered it. Her victory earned her a title as the American champion turf mare of 2005. Unfortunately, she has been a disappointing broodmare.
Race record
22 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,052,382 (includes converted English and French earnings)
2002:
2003:
2004:
2005:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2005)
As an individual
A bay mare, Intercontinental was more speed-oriented but later-maturing than her full sister Banks Hill. According to her regular jockey in the U.S., Jerry Bailey, she could be “a handful.”
As a producer
To date, Intercontinental has produced 10 starters and eight winners from 10 foals of racing age, headed by stakes-placed Abseil (by First Defence). Through her daughter Continental Drift (by Smart Strike), she is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Masen.
Connections
Intercontinental was bred and owned by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. She was trained by André Fabre in Europe and by Bobby Frankel in North America.
Pedigree notes
Intercontinental is inbred 3x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. She is a full sister to 2009 Canadian Horse of the Year Champs Elysees; to 2001 European champion 3-year-old filly and American champion turf female Banks Hill, dam of 2013 Prix Jean Romanet (FR-G1) winner Romantica (by Galileo) and listed stakes winner Ideal World (by Kingmambo), second dam of English Group 3 winner Sangarius, and third dam of French Group 3 winner Belbek; to multiple Grade 1 winner Cacique; and to 2000 Prix de Muguet (FR-G2) winner Dansili, a good sire in Europe. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Heat Haze (by Green Desert), dam of 2020 Metropolitan Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Mirage Dancer (by Frankel) and multiple Australian listed stakes winner Ironclad (by Dubawi), and to 2011 Cardinal Handicap (USA-G3) winner Deluxe (by Storm Cat). She is also a half sister to Responsible (by Oasis Dream), dam of 2019 Prix de Sandringam (FR-G2) winner Obligate (by Frankel).
Intercontinental and her siblings are out of French stakes winner Hasili, the 2006 English Broodmare of the Year, who is a full sister to English stakes winner Arrive. The 2008 English Broodmare of the Year, Arrive is the dam of 2008 Pretty Polly Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Promising Lead (by Danehill) and multiple English Group 3 winner Visit (by Oasis Dream) and second dam of English Group 3 winner Commemorative. Hasili is also a full sister ot Kalima, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Jet Away (by Cape Cross) and second dam of 2022 Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) winner Onesto, and a half sister to Dissemble, dam of 2005 American champion turf male Leroidesanimaux (by Candy Stripes), 2002 Grande Prêmio São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Uapybo (by Blush Rambler) and 1998 Grande Prêmio Henrique de Toledo Lara (Cidade Jardim) (BRZ-G3) winner Disport (by Blue Stag). In addition, Hasili is a half sister to English hurdle stakes winner Kerawi (by Warning); to stakes-placed Skiable (by Niniski), dam of Grade G2 winner Three Valleys (by Diesis) and second dam of 2019 Fillies' Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Quadrilateral and multiple Australian Group 3 winner Scissor Kick; to Jiving (by Generous), dam of English stakes winner Excusez Moi (by Fusaichi Pegasus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Bowerman; and to Kid Gloves (by In the Wings), dam of Grade 2 winner Treat Gently (by Cape Cross).
Hasili and her siblings are out of the winning High Line mare Kerali, a half sister to 1995 Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) winner So Factual (by Known Fact), English Group 3 winner Bold Fact (by Known Fact) and Irish stakes winner Field Dancer (by Northfields; second dam of Group 3 winner Camporese). Produced from 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera (by Roberto), Kerali is also a half sister to Resooka (by Godswalk), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Thousla Rock (by Thatching) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hawksley Hill, and to Keralba (by Sheikh Albadou), dam of the stakes-winning Irish hurdler Hash Brown (by Vinnie Roe).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 15, 2022
Race record
22 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,052,382 (includes converted English and French earnings)
2002:
- 3rd Grand Criterium (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
2003:
- Won Prix Amandine (FR-L, 1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 2nd Prix de la Cochere (FR-L, 1400mT, Chantilly)
- 3rd One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Prix de Sandringham (FR-G2, 1600mT, Chantilly)
2004:
- Won Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Hollywood)
- Won Just A Game Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8FT, Belmont)
- Won Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
- 2nd Senator Ken Maddy Handicap (USA-G3, 6.5T, Santa Anita)
2005:
- Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1, 10FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5T, Del Mar)
- Won WinStar Galaxy Stakes (USA-G2, 8FT, Keeneland)
- Won Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
- Won Royal Heroine Invitational Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Hollywood)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2005)
As an individual
A bay mare, Intercontinental was more speed-oriented but later-maturing than her full sister Banks Hill. According to her regular jockey in the U.S., Jerry Bailey, she could be “a handful.”
As a producer
To date, Intercontinental has produced 10 starters and eight winners from 10 foals of racing age, headed by stakes-placed Abseil (by First Defence). Through her daughter Continental Drift (by Smart Strike), she is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Masen.
Connections
Intercontinental was bred and owned by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. She was trained by André Fabre in Europe and by Bobby Frankel in North America.
Pedigree notes
Intercontinental is inbred 3x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. She is a full sister to 2009 Canadian Horse of the Year Champs Elysees; to 2001 European champion 3-year-old filly and American champion turf female Banks Hill, dam of 2013 Prix Jean Romanet (FR-G1) winner Romantica (by Galileo) and listed stakes winner Ideal World (by Kingmambo), second dam of English Group 3 winner Sangarius, and third dam of French Group 3 winner Belbek; to multiple Grade 1 winner Cacique; and to 2000 Prix de Muguet (FR-G2) winner Dansili, a good sire in Europe. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Heat Haze (by Green Desert), dam of 2020 Metropolitan Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Mirage Dancer (by Frankel) and multiple Australian listed stakes winner Ironclad (by Dubawi), and to 2011 Cardinal Handicap (USA-G3) winner Deluxe (by Storm Cat). She is also a half sister to Responsible (by Oasis Dream), dam of 2019 Prix de Sandringam (FR-G2) winner Obligate (by Frankel).
Intercontinental and her siblings are out of French stakes winner Hasili, the 2006 English Broodmare of the Year, who is a full sister to English stakes winner Arrive. The 2008 English Broodmare of the Year, Arrive is the dam of 2008 Pretty Polly Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Promising Lead (by Danehill) and multiple English Group 3 winner Visit (by Oasis Dream) and second dam of English Group 3 winner Commemorative. Hasili is also a full sister ot Kalima, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Jet Away (by Cape Cross) and second dam of 2022 Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) winner Onesto, and a half sister to Dissemble, dam of 2005 American champion turf male Leroidesanimaux (by Candy Stripes), 2002 Grande Prêmio São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Uapybo (by Blush Rambler) and 1998 Grande Prêmio Henrique de Toledo Lara (Cidade Jardim) (BRZ-G3) winner Disport (by Blue Stag). In addition, Hasili is a half sister to English hurdle stakes winner Kerawi (by Warning); to stakes-placed Skiable (by Niniski), dam of Grade G2 winner Three Valleys (by Diesis) and second dam of 2019 Fillies' Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Quadrilateral and multiple Australian Group 3 winner Scissor Kick; to Jiving (by Generous), dam of English stakes winner Excusez Moi (by Fusaichi Pegasus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Bowerman; and to Kid Gloves (by In the Wings), dam of Grade 2 winner Treat Gently (by Cape Cross).
Hasili and her siblings are out of the winning High Line mare Kerali, a half sister to 1995 Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) winner So Factual (by Known Fact), English Group 3 winner Bold Fact (by Known Fact) and Irish stakes winner Field Dancer (by Northfields; second dam of Group 3 winner Camporese). Produced from 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera (by Roberto), Kerali is also a half sister to Resooka (by Godswalk), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Thousla Rock (by Thatching) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hawksley Hill, and to Keralba (by Sheikh Albadou), dam of the stakes-winning Irish hurdler Hash Brown (by Vinnie Roe).
Fun facts
- Intercontinental and Banks Hill became the first pair of full siblings to win the same Breeders' Cup race.
- Intercontinental and Banks Hill are the second set of full siblings to win titles in the same American championship division since voting began in 1936. Bold Lad and Successor (Bold Ruler x Misty Morn, by Princequillo) had previously accomplished the feat by being voted champion juvenile male in 1964 and 1966, respectively.
- Intercontinental is the namesake for a Grade 3 turf stakes at Belmont Park. As of 2022, it is carded over 6 furlongs for fillies and mares aged 4 and up.
Last updated: July 15, 2022