Deterministic gets back to work
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Deterministic was a bit conspicuous by his absence from the work tab over the last month. Friday morning, he returned with a solid five-furlong workout over the Oklahoma training track that keeps him on target for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 8.
Working in company with the undefeated The Big Con, winner of the Grade 3 Grey Stakes last fall, Deterministic began the move a little bit in front of that one as they crawled away from the three-furlong pole. The two were together by upper stretch and then continued out a quarter-mile past the wire. Deterministic was timed by Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris in 1:02.80, covering his final quarter in 25.20 seconds.
“First work back, didn’t want to do something too aggressive, he looked great,” trainer Miguel Clement said. “The Big Con was his target. He’s a graded stakes winner. They’re very much a good tandem. It’s only positive, to be honest with you. He’s a spectacular work horse.”
Deterministic, a 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map, has won five consecutive graded turf stakes dating back to the Grade 2 Fort Marcy in May 2025. This year, he scored a repeat victory in the Fort Marcy and is coming off a half-length score in the Grade 1 Manhattan at 1 3/16 miles last month. Deterministic only had two workouts between those two races. Clement is planning two more moves in between the Manhattan and Fourstardave.
Going a month between workouts was by design, Clement said.
“We did the same last time,” Clement said. “He’s bigger, better. He was getting a touch light, but he’s got plenty of weight, foundation, and condition. He’ll be spot-on.”
Clement said the Fourstardave and the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 12 “will be the logical targets. We’ll let the horse take us there, but he’s doing very well.”