On paper, it seemed like Deterministic faced a difficult challenge in the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3).
The one-turn mile Kentucky Derby (G1) prep for 3-year-olds was the first race for the Christophe Clement-trained son of Liam’s Map since he broke his maiden at first asking, back on Aug. 12 at Saratoga Race Course.
His first race in nearly seven months, contested at a demanding, one-turn mile distance in a graded stakes, with the added obstacle of a sloppy, sealed track on a windy, rain-swept March 2 afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack.
It was an imposing challenge, yet special horses can often do special things.
“You don’t worry when you have a horse as good as him. You just look out for their well-being and they take care of the rest. Surface, distance (it doesn’t matter). As he showed in his debut, anything can happen and they will find a way to win. You just look after them,” said Miguel Clement, assistant trainer for his father.
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Neither wind, nor rain, nor layoff, nor mile distance could stay Deterministic from the winner’s circle as he rallied from fifth to pull away in the stretch and notch a two-length victory in the Gotham and earn enough qualifying points (50) to potentially pursue the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
As for the future, Clement said “the team” will decide what’s next for the colt owned by St. Elias Stable, Vicarage Stable, Ken Langone, and Steven Duncker. Yet with the May 4 opening leg of Triple Crown two months away, it is likely the dark bay/brown colt will continue his impressive advancement from a seven-furlong maiden race, in which he overcame a slow start and bumpy trip, to a mile stakes race with a 1 1/8-mile final prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Given how he pulled clear in the stretch at a mile, the added furlong does not figure to pose an insurmountable problem for a horse who seems to have a bright future ahead of him.
“All the credit goes to the horse. He’s been top class from day one. We’ve all loved him,” Miguel Clement said.
In opting for the Gotham as the spot for Deterministic’s comeback, Miguel Clement said there was not a suitable allowance race in Florida for the colt bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms. A series of strong works at Payson Park Training Center with Pandagate , who won the Feb. 25 Gander Stakes, convinced the connections to target the Gotham.
“We liked the distance and idea of bringing him back in a one-turn mile,” the assistant trainer said. “We knew he was good enough to do it, so we said, why not?”
Why not indeed?
The betting public showed its faith in Deterministic ($9.80) by installing him as the 7-2 second choice in a field of 12 and jockey Joel Rosario kept him in a stalking position, a length and a half of the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :23.42.
Maximus Meridius led after a half-mile in :46.63 with El Grande O and 8-5 favorite Just a Touch in close pursuit.
As the leader faltered, El Grande O, runner-up in the Jerome Stakes and Withers Stakes (G3), forged to the front leaving the quarter pole.
The latter, a New York-bred son of Take Charge Indy , splashed away to a 1 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, but Rosario swung Deterministic wide on the turn and then moved inside of the leader in the stretch. The winner motored past Barry Schwartz’s El Grande O to grab the lead before the sixteenth pole and drew clear to cover the mile in 1:36.37.
“He did everything really well and so we’re excited for him and where he’ll take us,” Rosario said after the third of four 2024 Aqueduct preps for the Run for the Roses.
Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel’s Just a Touch found his best stride late to take second by a half-length over El Grande O. The son of Justify earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in his second career start.
“He was wide on the turn, and the winner got the jump on us, but I am proud of the effort. He finished up well. I think he’s a horse who is going to get better with two turns,” said trainer Brad Cox, who sent out four starters and finished seventh with Lightline , eighth with Bergen , and 11th with Air Cav .
A winner of his Jan. 27 debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Just a Touch will return April 6 in either the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct or the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, Cox said.
El Grande O, picked up 15 points and now has 30. Trainer Linda Rice said the colt will run in the Wood, but without the blinkers he has worn for his last seven races. His connections feel he has been waiting on rivals in the stretch and hope he will improve with his peripheral vision unencumbered by blinkers.
Maximus Meridius was fourth (10 points), and the Clement-trained Capital Idea fifth (five points).
Deterministic, who has earned $222,750, was bought for $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the fourth of five foals and first stakes winner for his dam, the Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel . Her most recent foal is a 2-year-old Frosted filly.
Liam’s Map stands for $40,000 at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky.
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