Deterministic sets course record in impressive repeat in G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan
Deterministic lived up to his moniker, running down pacesetter and dual Grade 1-winning New York-bred Rhetorical from the outside in the final furlong to secure a repeat victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan for older horses going 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon turf course at Saratoga Race Course.
The fifth of sixth Grade 1s contested on Belmont Stakes Day saw St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable’s Deterministic capture the 124th Manhattan edition in a course-record 1:50.50 final time, following up his thrilling gate-to-wire victory by a head over Integration last year with an off-the-pace half-length margin of victory in this year’s iteration.
Now a winner of nine of his 15 starts, the 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map secured his fifth consecutive graded stakes victory, with the latest accomplishment stemming from a good break under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who kept his charge forwardly placed in second position as Rhetorical led the nine-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.99 seconds, the half in 47.01, three-quarters in 1:09.83 and a mile in 1:32.92 over firm going.
In the stretch, Deterministic had plenty in reserve, thriving on open daylight in front under Carmouche’s encouragement and hitting the wire in a time that eclipsed the previous mark of 1:51.40 set by Say the World on August 14, 2020.
Test Score, under rider Manny Franco, surged a half-length ahead of fellow Graham Motion-trainee One Stripe for second. Rhetorical, the reigning NYTB Horse of the Year, finished fourth, with Integration, Make Me King, Bright Picture, Tiz Dashing and Battle of Normandy completing the order of finish.
Carmouche, who piloted Deterministic in each of his last five wins, including last year’s Manhattan, heaped high praise on both the horse and Clement.
“What a sensational job by Miguel Clement and his team. And he was 10 times sharper than last race,” Carmouche said. “He was probably a tad short last time and still won, so we knew going into this race we’d be even stronger. I’m just so pleased, just so happy. “He’s different, I’m telling you. The feeling you get, the whole way, too. He’s chill in the paddock, but once he’s out there, he’s all about business, all about business.”
Deterministic has not lost since returning to stakes company following a second-place effort in April 2025 in a race moved off the turf. On the friendly confines of the turf, he registered wins in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at Aqueduct before a pair of wins at the Spa in the Manhattan and the Grade 1 Fourstardave to close his 4-year-old campaign.
His victory in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy commenced his 2026 and marked this third straight performance that earned a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. For his efforts Saturday, the 9-2 selection returned $11.84 on a $2 win wager and improved his career earnings to $2.63 million.
“He's a tremendous racehorse. He's a pure athlete. We are very privileged to be part of the ride,” Clement said. “He's top class. I've always thought he was the best turf horse in the country. He proved that today. I thought we deserved the Eclipse Award last year, but I'm biased. Hopefully, everyone will understand why I think he's the leader of the division.
“I think he'll be a more attractive stallion prospect by keeping him closer, or cutting him back to a mile,” Clement added. “That's probably the path we'll do, but we'll talk to the connections, and I'm sure we'll come up with the right plan."
Clement said a repeat bid in the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave on August 8, a "Win and You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile remains a possibility.
“Seems like the logical choice to go,” Clement said. “He has an affinity for Saratoga. As we're based here, we always like to support NYRA. He's a very special horse."
Test Score, who won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park before running eighth in the Grade 1 Turf Classic last out in May at Churchill Downs, again earned black type for trainer Graham Motion, with Franco urging him up from fifth in early going to get up for second.
Motion also saw One Stripe, the 5-year-old formerly based in South Africia, pick up third, adding an impressive showing to a career that already includes a pair of Group 1 wins at Kenilworth before coming stateside and running second in both the Pegasus World Cup Turf and Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile in April at Keeneland.
“That’s [a] brutal [beat]. They both ran so well,” Motion said. “They were awesome. I don’t know what anyone could have done differently. They went really quick. Manny [Franco, on Test Score] said he lost his spot a little bit going into the first turn but that horse never quits. I just don’t know what happened in Kentucky [last time]. I just noticed he was 15-1? That’s extraordinary. I didn’t realize that until after the race. And [One Stripe] ran huge. It’s just tough to make up ground on this track. I think Gavin [Lerena] did a great job. It’s just hard to make up that kind of ground.”
Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker in Race 4 and the Grade 3. $200,00 Soaring Softly in Race 8. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.
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