OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Miguel Clement speaks assuredly and full of confidence when he discusses Deterministic, who earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points when winning Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes for 3-year-olds over a one-turn mile at rainy Aqueduct. “He was always very professional and talented,” said the son of and assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, who was recently named a finalist for this year’s National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame ballot. “From Day 1, the whole stable loved him, so it was no surprise. He’s the most efficient mover we [perhaps] have.” Deterministic not only overcame the stormy conditions at Aqueduct, but he also hadn’t started since his debut, overcoming trouble to score a seven-furlong maiden special weight win at Saratoga on Aug. 12. Clement said that a “slight setback” caused him to miss the remainder of his 2-year-old campaign. “We didn’t find a first-level allowance that we actually quite loved,” Clement said about the decision to run Deterministic in the Gotham off such a lengthy layoff. “I wasn’t too worried about the race selection because he had been training exceptionally well. Last weekend, we were fortunate to win the Gander Stakes with Pandagate. They’ve been working together and that gave us the confidence to make the trip up [from Florida].” Maximus Meridius made the lead from the start in the Gotham, and the Parx invader set opening splits of 23.42 and 46.63 seconds while pursued by the hearty New York-bred El Grande O and a three-wide Just a Touch. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Deterministic settled into the pocket behind the leader while racing on seemingly deeper inside footing. El Grande O went after Maximus Meridius in earnest after six furlongs in 1:10.94, and grabbed the lead at the eighth pole. Deterministic’s jockey, Joel Rosario, decided to come inside of El Grande O, and they split El Grande O and Maximus Meridius to prevail by two lengths in 1:36.37 over the sloppy track. Deterministic improved on the Beyer Speed Figure scale, jumping to a 93, up 12 points off his maiden score. Favored Just a Touch, also making his second lifetime start after a big-figure victory sprinting at Fair Grounds on Jan. 27, ran on well for second, a half-length better than El Grande O. Maximus Meridius, Capital Idea, Deposition, Lightline, Bergen, Eliminate, Facenda, and Air Cave completed the order of finish. “[Just a Touch] ran well,” Cox told NYRA publicity. “It looked like he finished up well. He showed enough speed and he's obviously still learning, but I think he'll be better around two turns. He's big, with plenty of leg, and hopefully he will stretch.” “I had a good trip, forwardly placed, right off of the two horses in front,” said Just a Touch’s rider, Florent Geroux. “He was still a little bit immature. I lost him a little bit. He was not traveling that great in the turn, so I had to ask him a little more than I would have loved to, but I was very happy with the last eighth of a mile.” Trainer Linda Rice said that El Grande O will next start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial going nine furlongs at Aqueduct on April 6, and will likely race without blinkers in that spot. “[Jockey Kendrick Carmouche] said to take the blinkers off of him," Rice said. "He can’t see the horses coming, but once he does, he comes again.” Maximus Meridius, Capital Idea, Deposition, Lightline, Bergen, Eliminate, Facenda, and Air Cav completed the order of finish. Slider scratched due to a sore foot suffered on Friday morning. Khanate also withdrew. Deterministic returned $9.80 to win as the second choice in the betting. Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Deterministic sold for $625,000 as a yearling, and is owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable. He is a son of Liam’s Map and is a direct descendant of blue hen mare Courtly Dee. Miguel Clement says that a decision has yet to be reached regarding Deterministic’s next start. “He’s top class, so you don’t worry about distance. When you have horses as good as him, you just look after their well-being, and they take care of the rest.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.