Deterministic took them all the way in his classic front running style, Breeders’ Cup Photo
Breeders’ Cup Press
LEXINGTON, Ky (Oct. 31, 2026) – Deterministic dug deep to hold off a hard-charging Notable Speech (GB) and capture the $2 Million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1) on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course.
“We got a great trip, stalking position, and pounced at the right time,” winning trainer Miguel Clement said.
Deterministic turned the tables on Notable Speech (GB), who had gotten the best of him in the Woodbine Mile (G1) on Sept. 26. But prior to that runner-up effort, he had won six straight starts, and Saturday’s conquest gave the 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map 11 wins from 18 career starts.
Clement — the son of the late Hall of Fame trainer Christophe Clement — earned his first-ever Breeders’ Cup victory. Making the win all that much more sweet for the younger Clement was the fact that Deterministic was a horse his father conditioned prior to his passing.
It was an emotional victory not only for Clement but also jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who also recently lost his father.
“My dad died two years ago, Mr. (Christophe) Clement died a year after, and those people just set the table for me and Miguel (Clement) to be successful,” Carmouche said.
Deterministic ($12.10) rode the rail to victory underneath Kendrick Carmouche — who, like Clement, earned his first-ever Breeders’ Cup triumph. Carmouche sat patiently off the speed of longshot leader Cabo Spirit, who ran the opening quarter-mile in 23.31 seconds and the half-mile in 47.01 seconds. Cabo Spirit gave way and Deterministic struck the front as they turned for home, and opened up a solid lead at the top of the stretch. Notable Speech came from far out of it to mount a threat in deep stretch, but Deterministic held firm to win by 3/4 length. Lake Forest (GB) finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
In the earlier battle between Deterministic and Notable Speech at Woodbine, Deterministic didn’t have much pace to run at. But this time around, Deterministic got what Clement called a “great trip” by sitting just off of Cabo Spirit’s solid fractions.
“Without a doubt, there was pace,” Clement said. “He was in a stalking, pouncing position. Cabo Spirit lugged out a little bit, per usual, and he was able to make the most of it and open up at the top of the stretch and make him pay. He used his high cruising speed.”
Favored Notable Speech broke a step slow and settled in a little further back than he’s accustomed to. He drifted towards the tail of the field as he rounded the turn for home, and then unleashed a strong kick. But he’d left himself with just a bit too much to do, and ultimately could not get past Deterministic.
“He was a stride slow from the gate there,” said Charlie Appleby — trainer of Notable Speech, who is being retired. “This just happens in racing, sometimes. It’s his last race and of course you wanted to go out on a high, but it didn’t happen.”
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Deterministic is owned by Vinny Viola’s St. Elias Stables, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable. The 5-year-old has finished no worse than second in his last 12 starts, and passed $4 million in earnings with Saturday’s victory.
Longshot Facteur Cheval (IRE) ran fourth, followed by, in order; Ask Ikigomi (JPN), Rhetorical, Puerto Rico (IRE), Brilliant Berti, True Love (IRE), Formidable Man, Lugal (JPN), frontrunning Cabo Spirit, and Quirat (GB). A field of 13 went postward, following the scratches of Zulu Kingdom (IRE) and Vina Arana (IRE) — the latter of whom drew into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Race Quotes:
Winning trainer Miguel Clement (Deterministic): “We got a great trip, stalking position, and pounced at the right time.”
On getting a different race scenario than when Deterministic lost to Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile?: “Without a doubt, there was pace. He was in a stalking, pouncing position. Cabo Spirit lugged out a little bit, per usual, and he was able to make the most of it and open up at the top of the stretch and make him pay. He used his high cruising speed.
“It’s my fault in Canada. You blame me. I ruined his win streak, which devastates me. But we got it right this time, and that’s all that matters.”
“I feel relieved because when you’re training a horse as good as him. I should never have got him beat in Canada. It’s 100% my fault. I’m over the moon that we got it right this time.”
Winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche (Deterministic): “Beyond belief. My dad died two years ago, Mr. (Christophe) Clement died a year after, and those people just set the table for me and Miguel (Clement) to be successful. It’s the best sport in the world. If you never saw it yet, you need to come out and see it, because you’re going to meet cool people like me and some of the top jockeys in the world. I love ya’ll.”
Second-place trainer Charlie Appleby (Notable Speech (GB), beaten favorite): “William said he had to work a bit hard to get position because he was a stride slow from the gate there. This just happens in racing, sometimes. It’s his last race and of course you wanted to go out on a high, but it didn’t happen. Like I’ve said, he’s given us all a lot of fun and took us on many long trips around the world. The main thing is that he’s retired safe and sound. We’ll bring another one like him, don’t worry.”
Third-place trainer William Haggas (Lake Forest (GB)): “He ran well. He ran a very good race and the jockey said he just lost his back end at the top of the turn, but he finished well and in the end ran a very good race; very happy. It’s been a great trip and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll have to come more often.”
Third-place jockey Cieren Fallon (Lake Forest (GB)): “We did some gate work with him because we always felt we were just getting leaving too many lengths behind in the gate, and he’s broke really well today. He actually traveled much stronger. I was down on the fence, and I didn’t want to be stuck down there, obviously, because of the last run, and I was able to maneuver off just in the first bend. He traveled really strong, much stronger than he usually does. I thought it was a steadier pace than he anticipated. I thought with the pace on paper, we’re going stronger, so I was happy. He finished up very well.
“He’s run a great race again. He’s been consistent all year and once again has proved what a good horse he is. We’ll see how he comes out of the race and see whether he will travel throughout the winter.”
Trainer Hideaki Fijiwara (Ask Ikigomi, fifth): “He’s still only three years old, but as the jockey said, he showed a lot of maturity and ran a race that gives us plenty to look forward to in the future.
I would have liked him to break a little more sharply from the gate. But the jockey made good use of the inside draw and gradually moved him up through the field. I thought he was in a good position, and the jockey handled that part of the race very well.
Finally, I’m extremely grateful to the owner for giving us the opportunity to come this far.”
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