A Sultan of Saratoga Indeed: Deterministic Defends Fourstardave Crown

There is a new reigning Sultan of Saratoga.

No wind and rain would stop him Saturday as 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Deterministic (Liam's Map) left his rivals in his wake to defend his GI Fourstardave Stakes crown.

Untouchable since May 2025, when he won his final start for Hall of Famer Christophe Clement in the GII Fort Marcy Stakes, Deterministic posted four consecutive 100+ Beyers in his subsequent starts for Miguel Clement. Three of them were Grade I races at Saratoga–the 2025 Manhattan (which he also won for a second time last out June 6), and the 2025 Fourstardave. He defended his Fort Marcy title two back May 2 on his 2026 seasonal bow.

There proved to be some early drama even before the gates opened when Rhetorical (Not This Time) had to be backed out after being keyed up both during the post parade and in the blocks. He reloaded well and the field broke without further incident.

Mi Bago (Vekoma) stepped up to lead the procession through an opening quarter in :24.20 while Deterministic tracked from second, and Lagynos (Kantharos) ran third. The half was posted in :48.54 and six panels in 1:12.19 as Mi Bago and Deterministic inched away from field. The 8-5 favorite came calling off the bend and fought to the front as the longtime pacesetter tried to mount a response.

To their inside, 'Rising Star' Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) tried to take a shot from the fence but the hole closed on him, forcing him to change tactics. Meanwhile, Deterministic kicked it in gear late to stride home an easy winner. Mi Bago held on for second and Zulu Kingdom was a troubled third. The final time was 1:35.07

A pair of jockey's objections against the third and second-place runners were both disallowed by the Stewards.

With his victory in the Fourstardave, Deterministic collects an automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in October. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche has been aboard the son of Liam's Map for six consecutive victories since taking the mount.

“I was a little worried about the ground,” said Miguel Clement. “It was a lot softer than I thought it was going to be initially [after the pre-race rain], however he's top class. He can run a mile to a mile and a quarter; in the bog or firm; speed-favoring or playing towards closers. He's just special because he overcomes these barriers consistently and overcomes these variables and everything and delivers time and time again. That's why, without a doubt, he's the leader of the division for the past two years. We'll have a long discussion with the connections after this, but I have my eye on Canada [the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 12].”

“[Deterministic is] a special horse. When you have a special horse, you just have to worry about their soundness and you have to map out a career and a campaign for them. We've been fortunate enough to execute it well because, to be honest, he just makes our lives easier.”

“What an amazing horse. He made my career,” said Carmouche. “The best horse I ever rode in my life. [I] hope I get many more, but I will be very pleased with just having this one the rest of my career. Miguel and his owners, his barn, his gallop hands, his grooms, hotwalkers–they deserve all the credit. I just get to do it for a minute and 33 seconds.”

Six straight graded stakes wins for DETERMINISTIC!

He takes the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes under @KendrickToto for trainer @clementstable, winning this race for the second year in a row and earning a spot in the @BreedersCup Mile. pic.twitter.com/WVTdjRNsSZ

— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 8, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Deterministic is the most accomplished runner for his dam by far, and one of two multiple winners behind his sister, Frills (Candy Ride {Arg}). She has a yearling filly by Liam's Map to her credit as well as a 2026 colt by Union Rags. A second winning half-sister Nu Pi Lambda (City Zip) also has a 2026 filly by Liam's Map. The last registered offspring for their dam is Morana (Frosted), who broke her maiden at first-asking Mar. 27 at Turfway Park.

Dam Giulio's Jewel (Speightstown) is a half-sister to GSP Duff One (Harlan's Holiday) and that pair, in turn, is out of a half to a fleet of accomplished runners.  Third dam Amelia (Dixieland Band) produced Japanese Group winner Asakusa Genki (Stormy Atlantic); GSW-Jpn Rabbit Run (Tapit); MGSW & GISP Rainha da Bateria (Broken Vow); GSW Assateague (Stormy Atlantic), the mother of SW Explorationist (Pioneerof the Nile); GSW & GISP Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer); and GISP He's Had Enough (Tapit). This is also the distant female family of GSW & MG1SP-Eng Bertolini and MGISW Bayern (Offlee Wild).

Saturday, Saratoga
FOURSTARDAVE S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-8, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:35.07, fm.
1–DETERMINISTIC, 126, h, 5, by Liam's Map
                1st Dam: Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown
                2nd Dam: Acadiana, by Tiznow
                3rd Dam: Amelia, by Dixieland Band
($625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-St. Elias Stable, Langone, Ken, Duncker, C. Steven and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Miguel Clement; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $412,500. Lifetime Record: 16-10-3-1, $3,047,265. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mi Bago, 124, g, 4, Vekoma–Wabanaki, by Indian Charlie. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($62,000 Ylg '23 FTKFEB; $90,000 RNA Ylg '23 SARAUG). O-Gary Barber; B-Highclere, Inc. (NY); T-Mark E. Casse. $150,000.
3–Zulu Kingdom (Ire), 126, r, 4, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Zindziswa, by Smart Strike. O-Madaket Stables, LLC, Dubb, Michael, Strauss, William and Caruso, Michael J.; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $90,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.61, 16.84, 2.85.
Also Ran: Rhetorical, Lagynos, Capitol Hill. Scratched: Classic Q.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.