As winning trainer Miguel Clement politely answered questions about Deterministic's front-end victory in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes (G1T) as dusk approached at Saratoga Race Course, he kept two eyes on the video board replaying his first grade 1 victory.
Clement made sure to savor the moment in the fading light at the Spa.
One could understand thoughts toward a higher power as those replays showed what had just happened moments earlier: Deterministic digging in to hold off a late charge by Integration to register a narrow victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf test for older horses. The victory provided a milestone for the trainer while following in the footsteps of his late father, Christophe, who won the Manhattan three times.
"It's beyond emotion the last few days," Clement said. "There's a massive emptiness winning this race without my dad here but life goes on."
Clement has found a way to stay as focused as he can on the stable since the May 25 death of his father. With the stable transferred to Miguel, as planned, he'd already secured a pair of wins from just 14 starts. And in the last race on the card Sunday, he landed the first grade 1 win of his career. His father won the Manhattan with Forbidden Apple in 2001 and then in back-to-back years in 2009 with Gio Ponti and 2010 with Winchester.
In that 2010 victory, Winchester edged even-money favorite Gio Ponti as the trainer finished one-two. Miguel Clement thought of that as Deterministic, sent off at 5-1, initially held off stablemate Far Bridge (3-1) in the stretch before Integration's late charge. Far Bridge would place third.
"Dad's won it many, many times. He even won it once when everyone thought the stablemate should have won it, Gio Ponti. Winchester turned the tables on him," Clement said. "I suppose it's only fitting I did the same.
"It's a great race. We boys love the Manhattan. It's very special and very rewarding."
After earning a third-place finish last year in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T), Deterministic signaled his good form May 3 with a front-end victory in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct. That win punched his ticket back to the top level and he would take the same approach Sunday.
READ: On His Own But Not Alone, Miguel Clement Faces Future
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche guided Deterministic to that Fort Marcy win at 1 1/8 miles and would return Sunday aboard the 4-year-old son of Liam's Map . Deterministic enjoyed a clear lead through a half-mile in :48.47 and six furlongs in 1:12.99 before opening his advantage to two lengths in the stretch. That's where he found just enough to hold off Integration.
Carmouche celebrated and, after the horse had cleared the winner's circle, shouted, "a grade 1 at Saratoga." Besides being his first top-level win at the Spa, Carmouche landed the second grade 1 win of his career and first on the turf.
"He was into his stride like I had him at Aqueduct; just an amazing horse," Carmouche said. "When we got to the top of the lane he quickened right away and he did the same when he heard those horses coming. But he was just floating alone; he's just running, man.
"I'm just very happy for Miguel Clement and his family. They've been through a lot the last couple of weeks or six months, however you want to call it. Many of us have been through that, but it's hard to go through. The good thing is, his daddy left him a legacy, and he's going to make sure he stays strong with it and keep pushing hard."
Deterministic completed the 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf, listed as good, in 1:48.93. He returned $13.60 to win.
While Clement quickly secured his first grade 1 score, he did have to wait an extra 24 hours when sustained rain into Saturday morning saw NYRA decide to move the Manhattan and Jaipur Stakes (G1T) from Saturday to Sunday. With the change, the Manhattan was moved from the Mellon Turf Course to the inner turf and its distance was changed from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles.
Deterministic is campaigned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable. Those connections enthusiastically celebrated in the Saratoga clubhouse as Deterministic prevailed.
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Deterministic is out of the Speightstown mare Giulio's Jewel, who has produced three winners from as many starters.
Deterministic joins Burnham Square as grade 1 winners this year for Liam's Map, who stands for $40,000 at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
