Dom Napolitano Photo

Deterministic wants next grass score in G3 Hill Prince

by Christian Abdo

Grade 1-placed Deterministic, an exciting dirt prospect early on, has shown talent on grass and looks for his next graded score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong outer turf test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the dual Grade 3-winning Deterministic [post 3, Joel Rosario] was a close second to dual Grade 1-winning stablemate Carson’s Run last-out in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational on October 5 here. The Liam’s Map dark bay was third to that same rival in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational in July ahead of a win in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Virginia Derby on September 7 at Colonial Downs.

The closing neck victory in the Virginia Derby is Deterministic’s one win on grass in four attempts - also finishing second in the Grade 3 Manila in June here. He made his first four starts on dirt, highlighted by a two-length score in the local Grade 3 Gotham going a one-turn mile in March for owners St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable.

Christophe Lorieul, the Belmont Park-based assistant to Clement, said the barn’s success with Liam’s Map-sired turfers, including Roses for Debra and Silver Skillet, was a reason to try the lawn.

"He won the Gotham nicely in the slop but then he had two average races on the dirt, and we decided to switch him back to the turf,” said Lorieul. “He's by Liam's Map and we've had some success with Liam's Map on the turf, so that's why we tried him and now he's been showing consistent form."

Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Deterministic was a $625,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel. His third dam, the turf stakes-winning Amelia, produced graded stakes-winning turfers Rainha Da Bateria, Assateague and Kindergarden Kid.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig’s Grade 3-placed Cugino [post 2, Flavien Prat] will look to return to form after an uncharacteristic last-of-12 finish in the 1 5/16-mile Grade 3 Nashville Derby on August 31 at Kentucky Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Twirling Candy colt traveled in fifth position well off the pace early before weakening.

Cugino previously won the nine-furlong Listed Audubon by 4 1/4 lengths on June 1 at Churchill Downs. There, he set the pace and held a comfortable lead at each point of call with enough in reserve to stop the clock in 1:50.22, earning a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

Cugino, out of the dual stakes-winning Kitten’s Joy mare Adorable Miss, was a $225,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His older half-brother is dual graded stakes-placed Battle of Normandy, who is in training for McGaughey.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott will saddle Besilu Stables’ graded stakes-placed homebred Royal Majesty [post 7, Junior Alvarado], who dropped in class for a last-out second in the one-mile Gio Ponti on October 3 here. The Frankel bay was previously fourth twice at the Grade 1 level traveling 1 3/16 miles, including in the local Belmont Derby in July and Saratoga Derby Invitational in August.

Prior to the top-level tries, the British-bred Royal Majesty was a 1 1/4-length third in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge in May here. His lone other stakes attempt was a closing fifth in the one-mile Listed Colonel Liam in March at Gulfstream Park.

Greg Newell’s Pennsylvania homebred Bartlett [post 1, Frankie Pennington] is 4-for-6 in his career which has been exclusively on the dirt at Parx Racing. Trained by John Servis, the Not This Time gelding won his last two outings in pacesetting fashion going one mile and seventy yards versus optional claiming elders on September 25 and October 22.

The recent score earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Bartlett is out of the dual stakes-placed Smarty Jones mare Brilliant Sunshine, who produced stakes-winner Precious and dual stakes-placed Pachelbel.

Rounding out the field is Grade 3-placed Desvio [post 5, John Velazquez], who was third beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Deterministic in the Virginia Derby for trainer Madison Meyers; as well as a pair of maiden-winners for four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown in Main Beach [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Right to Vote [post 6, Manny Franco].

The Hill Prince is slated as Race 5 on Saturday’s 10-race card that also features the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith [Race 9] and Listed $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship [Race 8]. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.