Deterministic wins the Hill Prince under Joel Rosario (Susie Raisher)
By Lynne Snierson – NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Deterministic put forth a determined effort under a perfect ride by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario to take command in the lane and draw off to a one length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince while defeating six other sophomores in the nine-furlong outer turf test at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Christophe Clement for the ownership group of St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker and Vicarage Stable, Deterministic wrapped up his multiple graded stakes winning season on both dirt and turf and gave his connections optimism for a big 4-year-old campaign with him in 2025.
“He’s never run a bad race on the turf. He’s a fun horse. He’s won three graded stakes and it’s not easy to win three graded stakes in the same year,” Clement said of Deterministic, who began his 3-year-old year here with a victory in the Grade 3 Gotham on the main track on March 2 and scored in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby on the Colonial Downs grass on September 7.
Deterministic, who is by Liam’s Map out of the Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel, rated patiently behind the front-running Bartlett through fast fractions of 23.43, 47.61, and 1.11.13 and took over in the lane before opening up and drawing off to cross the wire in the final time of 1:46.58 on the firm course. Cugino came with a strong late rally under Flavien Prat to take second. Royal Majesty was third, another 2 1/2 lengths behind. Right to Vote, Bartlett, Desvio, and Main Beach followed to the wire.
“I thought he won great. When Joel asked him, he really quickened. They went quick and he won well. It’s a lot of fun for me because it is a great partnership to train for. I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” said Clement.
Rosario was also in the irons for the Gotham win and a close runner-up finish last time out to stablemate Carson’s Run in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational on October 5 here.
The Hall of Fame rider said Deterministic proved to be the class of the field.
“He did really well. He’s been going against a lot of good horses. I thought that today might be a little easier for him, so he did it the right way,” Rosario said. “That is how it looked on paper – the one horse [Bartlett] is going to show speed, but you never know, and he did. I just tried to track for a little bit until it was time to go, and that is what I did. He was the best horse in the race.
“The break was fine. It was a good break, I could’ve gone just a little forward if I wanted to, but it looked like it was going to be the one [Bartlett] going with the lead, so he can do what I did, sit a little bit and then go from there,” Rosario added.
Cugino, who is trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey and was looking to rebound from his last-place finish in the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs last out on August 31, put in a good effort to be second despite a less-than-ideal trip when rallying from last-of-7.
“He was struggling to follow the pace. He finally made a run down the lane, but just ran a bit out of ground. My break was fine, but like I said, the pace was just too hot for him. He couldn’t get himself into a good rhythm. I was chasing the whole way,” Prat said.
Clement said he would not likely consider a start for Deterministic against older horses in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.
“I don’t like the Pegasus for 3-year-olds turning four. I like to take on older horses as the year goes on,” Clement said. “He’s been running all year long and he’s been working since January, so I think he deserves a break. The smart thing to do is to give him a break and bring him back as a 4-year-old and have a complete campaign in New York next year.”
Deterministic returned $5.50 for a $2 wager and now has a record of 4-2-1 in 9 starts while upping his bankroll to $886,390. He was bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms and was a $625,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race card that features the Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island [Race 8] and $135,000 Forever Together [Race 7]. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
