Breeders' Cup: Deterministic, Notable Speech begin new career paths

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While the top two finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Turf could both wind up in Hong Kong next month, the top two finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Mile are about to be introduced to an entirely new lifestyle.

Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Deterministic already has taken up residence at his new home, Lane’s End Farm, where he will stand stud after being retired.

“I dropped him off myself this morning,” trainer Miguel Clement said Sunday.

Notable Speech, beaten favorite while attempting to win the Mile for the second year in a row, also has been retired to stud, though he will return to England before beginning the next phase of his life.

A huge odds gap separated 3-1 favorite Benvenuto Cellini and 40-1 chance Map of Stars in the Turf, but at the finish the two overseas shippers were only three-quarters of a length apart. Both horses benefited from a strong Turf pace that cracked any horse close to it, Map of Stars rallying from last of 14, Benvenuto Cellini’s superior turn of foot propelling him to victory.

Even before coming to Kentucky, the two had been under consideration for a trip to the Hong Kong International Races on Dec. 13 at Sha Tin, and Map of Stars trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said he looked at the BC Turf as much as anything as a steppingstone to Hong Kong. Map of Stars wasn’t selected to start in the Turf and drew into the race from the also-eligible list only after Test Score was scratched.

“Today he was supposed not to race, and we took the risk to bring him over anyway,” Graffard said Saturday.

Graffard closely watched the BC Turf Sprint, Filly and Mare Turf, and Mile – the three grass races before the Turf -- and saw horses running well from close to the pace and the rail. Map of Stars broke from post 14, and Graffard said he and jockey James Doyle decided to merely drop Map of Stars over to the fence at the break and take their chances from the back of a full field.

“We thought that would bring him forward to Hong Kong,” Graffard said, smiling because his horse had nearly won the Turf anyway.

Diamond Necklace finished a creditable third in the Turf but did not quite see out the race’s 1 1/2-mile trip and will be cut back to 1 1/4-mile racing, her sweet spot, trainer Aidan O’Brien said.

Six-year-old Tiffany, fourth in the Turf, is cataloged to be sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in England.

Clement said Deterministic’s retirement wasn’t confirmed until after he won the Mile, which moved his 2026 record to 5-4-1-0, his lone defeat a second to Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile. Deterministic added the Mile to Grade 1 tallies this year in the Fourstardave and the Manhattan, a campaign that at least merits mention in Horse of the Year conversations. Deterministic, by Liam’s Map, compiled an 18-11-4-1 record, making his first four starts on dirt, then going 13-9-3-1 on turf with five Grade 1 wins.

Notable Speech is retired with a record of 20-10-2-1, including seven Group 1 or Grade 1 victories.

Lake Forest, third in the mile after his hind end came out from underneath him as he tried to navigate the far turn on a loose turf course, is a gelding, so he will race on. Lake Forest, before becoming unbalanced on the bend, raced surprisingly close to the leaders given his deep-closing style, which could bode well for future endeavors.

Facteur Cheval at age 7 showed he still has plenty of run left by finishing fourth at 60-1 in the Mile. Facteur Cheval made his first 27 starts for France-based trainer Jerome Reynier, and only had his North American debut late this summer at Kentucky Downs. Transferred to trainer Mark Casse, Facteur Cheval won a Keeneland allowance race on Oct. 8, his first victory since March 2024. And after his competitive showing Saturday, Facteur Cheval on Sunday was on his way to New York for the $500,000 Man o’ War over 1 1/4 miles Nov. 28 at Belmont.

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