Deterministic takes the Gotham (G3) March 2 at Aqueduct (Dom Napolitano)
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NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable’s Grade 3 Gotham-winner Deterministic posted his first work back since an off-the-board finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino when covering five furlongs in 1:02.63 in company with The Shoe Lady over Belmont Park’s dirt training track Sunday.
“He came back alright, he had a maintenance work,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “He looked well.”
Deterministic earned 50 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, placing him 16th on the Derby leaderboard and securing him a place in the starting gate, but Clement confirmed Sunday the talented colt will skip the “Run for the Roses.”
“I spoke to the owners and we decided to keep him in New York and we will keep all the New York options open,” Clement said.
A logical spot for Deterministic would be the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 11 here, the traditional local prep for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
The sophomore son of Liam’s Map was an emphatic winner of the Grade 3 Gotham on March 2 at the Big A, making his first start in nearly seven months after a strong debut victory in August at Saratoga Race Course. He was last seen finishing eighth in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial on April 6 when rating 2 1/2 lengths off the early pace before losing ground through the latter stages of his first start around two turns.
A $625,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Deterministic is out of the winning Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel. His third dam, the turf stakes-winning Amelia, produced graded stakes-winning turfers Rainha Da Bateria, Assateague and Kindergarden Kid.
Also on the Sunday work tab for Clement was dual graded stakes-winning New York-bred City Man, who returned to work two weeks ago after a six-month respite. The fan-favorite son of Mucho Macho Man covered a half-mile in 51.51 seconds in his third work since returning to the track.
“He’s doing well and is still a bit rusty,” said Clement. “It was a maintenance work, galloping out five-eighths. Everything is good.”
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles, the now 7-year-old City Man posted two state-bred victories last year in the Kingston at Belmont Park and the West Point presented by Trustco Bank at Saratoga. He then finished third in the Ashley T. Cole and second in the Mohawk to close out his campaign, both of which were won by Spirit of St Louis, who came back to win yesterday’s Danger’s Hour in a Big A inner turf record time of 1:33.57.
Clement said he has not yet picked out a spot for City Man to return.
“I need a bit more time,” said Clement. “He’s a fun horse to be around and he’s a very pretty horse, but he’s not quite ready to run, so we’ll give him more time.”
City Man boasts a lifetime record of 32-11-6-5 with total purse earnings of $1,244,870. He made the grade in 2022 with victories in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple at the Spa and the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park.
