Trainer Christophe Clement has yet to run a horse in the Kentucky Derby in his 30-year training career, but in Deterministic he has a horse that has the qualifications to get him there for the first time. Deterministic overcame a near eight-month layoff and an extremely sloppy track to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes by two lengths at Aqueduct. The 50 qualifying points he earned for that win should be more than enough to get into Derby field. “It’s exciting for me,” Clement said Sunday morning at his barn at Payson Park, a training center in Indiantown, Fla. “If I have a horse good enough to make it to that kind of race, of course I want to make it.” :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Clement said he has “no plan as of yet” to get Deterministic to Louisville. As of Sunday, Clement planned to have Deterministic ship from New York to Payson Park where he has trained all winter since returning from surgery to remove an ankle chip last fall. Clement said he would keep Deterministic eligible for all the logical races including the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 30 and the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 6. Those races – as well as the Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 6 and the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on March 30 – are at 1 1/8 miles. Clement believes Deterministic will have no issues with the longer distances. “He’s a most beautiful, efficient mover so you would expect him to go farther,” Clement said. “I spoke to [Joel] Rosario at length last night and he was delighted. He didn’t think he was green and when he asked him to run he really ran the last quarter of a mile. You got to be very happy with the horse.” Deterministic, who split horses in midstretch, ran a mile in 1:36.37 and earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Deterministic had been working this winter with Pandagate, a 3-year-old son of Arrogate who had on Feb. 25 won the $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-breds. Clement said Pandagate is being considered for a trio of races including the Private Terms at Laurel Park March 23, the $1 million UAE Derby at Meydan March 30, or the Wood Memorial. Just a Touch, like Deterministic, was making just his second career start, having won a six-furlong maiden race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 27. He had an outside stalking trip and persevered to the wire under Florent Geroux to finish second, a half-length in front of El Grande O. “I thought it was a good effort,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Looking forward to getting him on a fast track and around two turns.” Cox said Just a Touch will remain at Belmont Park for a few weeks while he decides where he will make his next start. El Grande O, after runner-up finishes in the Jerome and Withers, was in contention for the win turning for home in the Gotham. He settled for third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. He has now accrued 30 qualifying points and will be given the opportunity to earn more in the Wood Memorial, according to owner Barry Schwartz. El Grande O got a career-best 89 Beyer for the performance. “If he had a good Wood, he’ll have enough points, if he didn’t have a good Wood I wouldn’t want to run anyway,” Schwartz said. “I’m encouraged by the fact that his Beyers have steadily increased. I think that’s extremely important.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.