Deterministic To Bypass Kentucky Derby; Spot Opens For Grand Mo The First

Originally posted on Paulick Report | Last updated 4/21/24

Gotham (G3) winner Deterministic posted his first work back since an off-the-board finish in the Wood Memorial (G2) when covering five furlongs in 1:02.63 in company with The Shoe Lady over Belmont Park’s dirt training track Sunday.

“He came back alright, he had a maintenance work,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “He looked well.”

Deterministic earned 50 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4 at Churchill Downs, placing him 16th on the Derby leaderboard and securing him a place in the starting gate, but Clement confirmed Sunday the colt will skip the classic, thus opening a spot for Grand Mo the First in the field of 20 should his connections choose to run. Trained by Victor Barboza Jr. for Granpollo Stable, the Uncle Mo colt was third in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

“I spoke to the owners and we decided to keep him in New York and we will keep all the New York options open," Clement said of Deterministic.

A logical spot for Deterministic would be the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) on May 11 at Aqueduct, the traditional local prep for the $2-million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

The son of Liam’s Map was an emphatic winner of the Gotham on March 2 at the Big A, making his first start in nearly seven months after a strong debut victory in August at Saratoga. He was last seen finishing eighth in the Wood Memorial on April 6 when rating 2 1/2 lengths off the early pace before losing ground through the latter stages of his first start around two turns.

This article first appeared on Paulick Report and was syndicated with permission.

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