Deterministic likely will make his next start in the $750,000 Fourstardave (G1) after coming out of Saturday’s second consecutive Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan victory in good shape, trainer Miguel Clement said Sunday morning.
“He’s come out of the race in good order,” Clement said. “I think it’s safe to say that the next logical target and goal is the Fourstardave.”
Owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable, the 5-year-old Liam’s Map entire set a course record of 1:50.50 at Saratoga in the race’s 124th running. After scoring gate-to-wire in last year’s edition at 1 1/8 miles, he rated comfortably this time over 1 3/16 miles behind the pace set by dual Grade 1-winning New York-bred Rhetorical, then unleashed well-timed stalk-and-pounce tactics under Kendrick Carmouche to win by a half-length over Graham Motion-trained Grade 1 winners Test Score and One Stripe.
The Fourstardave, set for Aug. 8, offers a “Win and You’re In” berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland in the autumn. Last year, Deterministic capped an abbreviated campaign with a 1 1/4-length win in the one-mile, inner-turf affair.
Deterministic has won 9 of 15 career starts, including 3 Grade 1 races, and earned $2,634,765. He also ranks as the standout of Clement’s first year as a head trainer.