Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Deterministic may have flamed out on the Triple Crown trail, but the 3-year-old Liam's Map colt showed his quality and proved in the $504,000 Virginia Derby (G3T) Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs he has found a home on the turf.
And his rider Manny Franco may want to make Colonial his home in the future. Franco won seven races, five of them stakes, on the closing-day card at the New Kent, Va., track.
Following off-the-board finishes in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Peter Pan (G3) stakes, trainer Christophe Clement switched Deterministic to the grass in the Manilla Stakes (G3T) at the Belmont at the Big A meeting, and he rallied to finish second behind Neat. The winner returned to win the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course, while Deterministic followed with a solid third in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).
Based on that form, Deterministic was sent off as the even-money favorite in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile turf race. That price didn't look good until fairly late in the stretch when Deterministic rallied from fifth place to catch fellow Triple Crown hopeful Grand Mo the First and win by a neck. Desvio finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Final time on the firm turf was 1:47.76.
"Every time I come with a good mind, which gives me a good chance to win races," Franco said. "I had a good trip. By the five-eighths pole I didn't feel comfortable where I was, but as soon as I asked my horse, he responded and put me where I wanted going into the far turn. After that I had a horse outside me, but I was able to get the jump and as soon as I got into the clear he gave me a nice kick home."
Owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker and Vicarage Stable, Deterministic has won three of seven starts and earned $667,750. Deterministic was bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms.
Liam's Map stands at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky. His stud fee was $40,000 in 2024.
Video: New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T)
Dead Heat In VA Oaks
Earlier on the Colonial card, Style Points and Deep Satin put on a show in the $255,000 Virginia Oaks with a dramatic stretch drive that ended in a dead heat.
John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock's Deep Satin (American Pharoah ) took the lead after six furlongs in 1:12.56, but Cheyenne Stable's Style Points (Oscar Performance ) was hot on her trail. The two 3-year-old fillies battled head-to-head to the wire, running their final three furlongs in just a little more than 34 seconds and stopping the timer for 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.15.
Like Deterministic, Style Points was ridden by Franco and trained by Clement, while Deep Satin was ridden by Mychel Sanchez for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Godolphin's Pendulum (Street Boss) finished another 2 1/2 lengths back in third.
Video: Virginia Oaks (BT)
Isivunguvungu Wins Da Hoss Stakes
Making his first start in nine months and first in North America, South African import Isivunguvungu won the $153,000 Da Hoss Stakes.
The 6-year-old gelding was a multiple grade 1-winning turf sprinter in his native land, and he appeared to take to American racing beautifully Saturday for trainer Graham Motion. Although he bumped at the start, Isivunguvungu always appeared full of run, racing tactically in third place along the rail while under restraint from Franco.
Tracking fractions of :21.91 and :44.27, Isivunguvungu sat about two lengths back until a large opening appeared turning for home. Surging through on the inside, he opened a two-length stretch lead then had to hang on late to win by a neck over a rallying Nothing Better. Final time for 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf was 1:02.58.
"I can't say enough about what a good effort this was today," Motion said. "He spent two months in quarantine at the beginning of the year. He is a very special horse. He has a big following in South Africa, and I am so happy for those guys, super happy for the Hollywood Syndicate. Manny gave him a great ride."
Owned by Hollywood Syndicate, Isivunguvungu is being aimed for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar.
"November is not that far off, and he ran a big race today," Motion said. "We have to decide if we are going to run him again; we have to decide if he is going to be able to get in the Breeders' Cup, which is what we'd really like to do. There's a fine line now with this guy. I think he's done enough fitness-wise to get there without another race, so we'll just decide."
Franco's other wins on Saturday came in a maiden, an allowance optional claimer, the Colonial Cup Stakes, and the Kitten's Joy Stakes.
