Deterministic hits the wire as Kendrick Carmouche checks his competition. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Gives trainer Miguel Clement his first G1 win
By Mary Eddy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The well-named colt Deterministic dug in gamely in the lane after setting the tempo under Kendrick Carmouche to cross the wire triumphantly and deliver conditioner Miguel Clement his first Grade 1 victory in Sunday’s $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan to close out the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
The Manhattan was originally slated for Saturday at 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon turf, but was rescheduled and shortened to nine furlongs on the inner turf on Sunday due to significant rainfall in the Saratoga region Saturday morning.
In a memorable showing for the Clement barn, Deterministic fought off the late bids of Integration and multiple Grade 1-winning stablemate Far Bridge to secure his first Grade 1 win, while simultaneously providing an emotional victory for his conditioner, who took over the sizable stable in recent weeks after the untimely passing of his father, Christophe – himself a three-time Manhattan-winner – in late May.
“It is beyond emotional the last two weeks to be honest with you,” Clement said. “Both professionally and personally. A massive emptiness to win this race without my Dad, but life goes on.
“I’m very fortunate and very lucky we have a great team,” Clement continued. “Very much Dad’s legacy. I thought both Deterministic and Far Bridge ran gallantly today, to be honest. The cutback in distance was probably beneficial to Deterministic. He’s top class. There’s nothing else to be said.”
The win also marked the second career Grade 1 conquest for Carmouche, who guided the sharp-starting 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map from post 4 to lead the field of eight through the opening quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds over the good turf under mild pressure from Tucson to his outside as post-time favorite Spirit of St Louis was headstrong in mid-pack and shuffled back.
Far Bridge, under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, drew the outside post and was wide through the stretch for the first time, but Rosario tactically urged the son of English Channel into a gap behind the top pair to clear the remainder of the field and tuck into the rail through the first turn in the chestnut’s preferred running lane.
Deterministic skipped through the half-mile in 48.47 as Far Bridge matched strides with Tucson and Integration, under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, was coaxed along from the middle of the field to keep the pacesetter within his grasp. Three-quarters elapsed in 1:12.99 and Deterministic was clear up front as Tucson backpedaled, but the gap became smaller when Far Bridge tipped outside of his stablemate to unleash his bid at the top of the stretch.
“Once I turned on the backside, I was in cruise control. I wasn’t getting no pressure. He was relaxed and into his stride like I had him at Aqueduct,” said Carmouche, who was aboard for a last-out win in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy. “Just an amazing horse.”
Deterministic bounded down the lane with Far Bridge giving game chase, but they were both under threat from Integration as he moved up into third position and found more with every stride. The mile elapsed in 1:36.90 and the pursuers closed in on Deterministic, but the pacesetter was game to the end and held on by a head over Integration while completing the course in 1:48.93.
“Whenever I got to the top of the lane, I asked him to quicken, and he quickened right away,” Carmouche said. “He heard those horses coming, but he was just floating along. He was just running, man.”
Integration had edged past Far Bridge in the final strides to claim place honors by a neck with Corruption running on late for fourth. Endlessly, Spirit of St Louis, the Clement-trained Carson’s Run and Tucson completed the order of finish. Highway Robber was scratched.
Carmouche said the win was emotional for him as well, as he also recently lost his father, Sylvester, Jr., within the last year.
“I am just very happy for Miguel and the Clement family. They’ve been through a lot in the last couple weeks and last six months—whatever you want to call it—we’ve all been through that and it’s a hard thing to go through,” Carmouche said. “But the good thing is, his daddy left him a legacy and he’s going to make sure he stays strong with it and keeps pushing hard. I’m just glad that I’m part of the team.
“A Grade 1 in Saratoga for me. I can’t explain it. It’s just pure joy, man,” Carmouche added. “Maybe [both my dad and Christophe] were here today riding [with me]. That’s the way I thought of them. With that kind of energy, I hope it helped us push through this to get this Grade 1.”
Clement said Deterministic was the beneficiary of the late distance change.
“I thought a mile and an eighth was a hinderance towards Carson’s Run and Far Bridge, whereas it would be more beneficial towards Deterministic,” Clement said. “The cutback in distance helped one of the three stable entries, nevertheless I can’t control that. The horses performed on the racetrack.”
Clement also noted Deterministic had tipped his hand with a work in 48.85 seconds over the Oklahoma training track’s turf course last week in company with Carson’s Run.
“I thought his last work on the turf course was remarkable on the Oklahoma,” Clement said. “He has handled all different surfaces, ground, distances – today was a very good race. Kendrick seems to be getting along with him. He has tactical speed, and speed is always dangerous on the turf.”
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms and owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable, Deterministic notched his fifth graded stakes victory, and entered from his track record-setting win in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy in May at Belmont at the Big A.
A graded stakes-winner on turf and dirt, the $625,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale won the Grade 3 Gotham as a sophomore before finding his best stride on turf in the latter half of his sophomore campaign. He has been on-the-board in 10-of-12 starts and banked $550,000 in victory while returning $13.60 on a $2 win ticket.
Live racing at the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet now moves back downstate to Aqueduct Racetrack, beginning with an eight-race card on Thursday, June 12. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
