Homerique leads a Chad Brown 1-2 in Belmont's New York Stakes

Homerique made it 2-for-2 on American soil Friday at Belmont Park, beating stablemate Competitionofideas to win the Grade 2, $600,000 New York Stakes.

The 4-year-old filly Homerique sat behind a three-wide battle for the lead coming out of the far turn on Belmont’s inner turf. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. guided her through a seam between rail-running Giant Zinger and Lady Montdore at the top of the stretch.

Homerique accelerated from there, holding off challenger Competitionofideas, another Chad Brown trainee, by a half-length. She posted a final time of 2:00.60 for the 1 ¼-mile stakes.

“Irad decided to take the inside… and it worked today,” Brown said. “It’s not going to work every time, but thankfully it opened up.

“Both horses ran great. Competitionofideas ran super. I’m sorry there has to be a loser. Our two horses ran so close at the finish.”

Bred in Kentucky and owned by Peter Brant, Homerique made the first six starts of her career on foreign soil, winning last year’s Group 3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville.

The Exchange Rate filly made her first start in the United States on May 11, winning Belmont’s Beaugay Stakes (G3).

Homerique paid $4 on Friday to win. Third-place Semper Sententiae and fourth-place Holy Helena followed runner-up Competitionofideas.