Zindaya tops one-two finish for Clement in Intercontinental

ELMONT, N.Y. – Zindaya led a one-two finish for trainer Christophe Clement in Thursday’s $150,000 Intercontinental Stakes, taking over from the pace-setting Believe in Charlie in midstretch and kicking clear to a 2 1/4-length victory in the seven-furlong turf race at Belmont Park.

Marbre Rose, the other Clement runner – and the 9-5 favorite in the Intercontinental – split horses in deep stretch to finish second by a half-length over Distorted Beauty, who got third by a head over Dauphine Russe.

Zindaya was let go at 5-1 odds, despite having won both of her previous starts at Belmont, including the six-furlong License Fee stakes here May 1.

“The filly who won, people did not give her credit, but she won well the stakes a month ago and ran well again today,” Clement said. “And the filly who finished second also ran a very good race, maybe a little bit tight on the turn, but she finished well.”

Zindaya, ridden by Manny Franco, sat off the flank of Believe in Charlie through a quarter in 23.28 seconds and a half-mile in 46.61. Turning into the stretch, Zindaya drew on even terms with Believe in Charlie, switched leads, and ran away from the field.

Zindaya, a 4-year-old daughter of More than Ready owned by Regis Racing, covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.17 over “good” turf and returned $12.20 to win.

Though Zindaya had won the License Fee in front-running fashion, Clement expected his filly to be a little bit off the pace Thursday.

“I told [Franco] before the race, ‘Be careful with the pace scenario. It is not the same. It is not a six-furlong race anymore,’ ” Clement said.

Irad Ortiz Jr., the rider of Marbre Rose, said he wished there had been a little more pace and that he did encounter a little bit of traffic entering the far turn.

“Nothing you can do about it when you want to save ground,” Ortiz said.