Gotham Winner Deterministic Makes Turf Debut in Manila

Deterministic  possesses all the key ingredients to be a top performer on turf when he makes his grass debut June 29 in the $250,000 Manila Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A onetime Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate off his victory in the Gotham Stakes (G3) on the dirt March 2, Deterministic then turned in two off-the-board efforts at 1 1/8 miles in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Peter Pan Stakes (G3). Trainer Christophe Clement, renowned for developing turf runners, gave the colt a breather from the races as he readied for a change in direction.

“He is a very talented horse. We decided to go with the turf option for him,” said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to Christophe. “This race makes a lot of sense. The fact that it is one mile, it is a logical next step for an experiment on the turf."

Deterministic won his debut last Aug. 12 at Saratoga Race Course before taking the Gotham in his second start. He is by Liam's Map  , whose best son was two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1T) hero Colonel Liam  . He is out of the Speightstown mare Giulio's Jewel , a multiple allowance winner sprinting on the lawn. 

Miguel Clement called Deterministic's June 14 turf breeze at Saratoga June 14 "a good work, moving rather effortlessly."

Dylan Davis will ride Deterministic for the first time on Saturday for the ownership group of St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable.

Neat , Mattingly , Please Advise , and Move to Gold , all stakes winners on the turf, are among the field of six 3-year-olds.