Colonial: Inti upsets Zeke Ferguson Memorial on opening day

There’s something about racing in June at Colonial Downs that brings out the best in Inti.

An 8-year-old gelding whose first two starts this season were lackluster, Inti regained the good form he showed last June when he won a first-level allowance by upsetting Colonial’s opening-day feature, the Grade 3, $50,000 Zeke Ferguson Memorial Hurdle on Saturday.

Ridden by Roddie Mackenzie for trainer Cyril Murphy, Inti ($49.80), the third longest shot in a field of 10 steeplechase runners, drew clear to win by 3 ¼ lengths. He completed 2 1/4 miles on soft turf in 4:25.20. He had been last of four and sixth of 10 in his first two starts this year.

Complete Zen, who led by six lengths after the first two miles and was still 2 ½ lengths in front with a furlong remaining, had to settle for second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Cat Feathers, a 5-year-old mare who was a stakes winner over jumps at Saratoga last summer. Decoy Daddy, coming off back-to-back Grade 3 wins, faded badly to seventh as the 8-5 favorite.