Deterministic points to Woodbine Mile, with eye on BC Mile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Miguel Clement believes Deterministic has been the best North American male turf horse the last two years and he’s hoping this year it will translate into a division championship.

Deterministic ran his winning streak to six straight - seven in a row if you count only turf races - when he won Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga. He won the Fourstardave for a second straight year after winning the Grade 1 Manhattan, also for a second consecutive season. He has also won back-to-back runnings of the Grade 3 Ft. Marcy.

“I think he’s always been the leader, he was the best horse last year, he’s still the best horse,” Clement said. “He’s always been spectacular. He’s consistently brilliant.”

In 2025, Deterministic didn’t run again after the Fourstardave, a void on his resume that may have cost him an Eclipse Award to the European import Notable Speech, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Woodbine Mile, his only two North America starts.

Speaking of the Woodbine Mile, that will be the next target for Deterministic. The Woodbine Mile is Sept. 12. That could be used as a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

“It’s a Grade 1, let’s see if he can win the division before the Breeders’ Cup is even run,” Clement said of the decision to target the Woodbine Mile.

Deterministic earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the Fourstardave victory.

Mi Bago, who was second in the Fourstardave, could make his next start in the $200,000 West Point Stakes for New York-breds on Aug. 28.

In addition to winning the Fourstardave, Clement also sent out Bottas to win Friday’s Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes on the same day his father was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Bottas, who won the Hall of Fame by 1 1/2 lengths, will be considered for one of three races, all on Sept. 7: the $1.75 million Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs, the Grade 3, $500,000 Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs, or the $200,000 Gio Ponti Stakes here.

Meanwhile, Clement entered Tawny Port in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Christophe Clement, the 1 1/2-mile turf race formerly known as the Sword Dancer.

“He’s thriving here at the moment, but it’s a bloody tough race,” Clement said.

The Clement drew a field of seven, including the Group 1-placed 3-year-old Ancient Egypt and the 4-year-old mare Survie, who won the Grade 2 Glens Falls on Aug. 9.

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