She was coming off a second-place finish behind Sand Springs in the Just A Game Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park June 11.Intercontinental paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Ticker Tape, who won the American Oaks (gr. IT) a year ago, returned $3.40 and $2.10. Navaja's show was $2.10.(Chart, Equibase)
The presence of Juddmonte Farms' grade I winner Intercontinental scared off half the rivals entered for Sunday's $200,000 Royal Heroine (gr. IIIT) and the 3-5 favorite showed the other half why, registering an easy victory on the Hollywood Park turf.The Bobby Frankel-trained Intercontinental, ridden by Jerry Bailey, went over the $1 million mark in career earnings with the victory. She completed the one-mile event for fillies and mares in 1:34 1/5 while holding off Ticker Tape by 1 1/4 lengths.The 5-year-old Danehill mare, carrying co-high weight of 123 pounds, pulled her way up to the front on the outside of her rivals on the far turn, putting away the pacesetter Navaja at the head of the stretch. She edged clear of the looming Ticker Tape after getting a crack of the whip from Bailey. She finished under steady handling in a workmanlike performance."Sometimes she's very headstrong," Bailey said of the winner. "Sometimes she's moderate. Today she was moderate."Ticker Tape, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, stalked the leaders along the inside and waited for room in upper stretch, angling out and finishing willingly as the second best.It was another 1 1/4 lengths to the New Zealand-bred Navaja, who set a pedestrian pace of :24 1/5, :47 4/5 and 1:11 2/5 before giving way to Intercontinental.Secret Charm and Pickle trailed. Mea Domina, Irgunette, Valentine Dancer and Fencelineneighbor all scratched.After beginning her career in Europe, Intercontinental won for the 10th time in 18 lifetime starts. She earned $120,000 Sunday, which pushed her career bankroll to $1,085,263. The bay mare has won six of nine in the United States since transferring here in March 2004.