Sovereignty is Breeders' Cup Bound with Whitney Win, Deterministic is Tops on Turf

August 8th, 2026 by Bob Ehalt

Content provided by BloodHorse

2026 Whitney Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, Fourstardave Stakes, Sovereignty, Deterministic

Sovereignty scored a crowd-pleasing victory in Saratoga's Whitney Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Classic "Win and You're in" race. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

Sovereignty is Classic Bound with Whitney Win, Deterministic is Tops on Turf at Saratoga

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Sovereignty is Classic Bound with Whitney Win, Deterministic is Tops on Turf at Saratoga

Deterministic is Tops on Turf at Saratoga

Trainer Miguel Clement has spent roughly two years claiming that Deterministic is the best turf horse in the nation, and on Aug. 8 he proved he may be right when winning the Grade 1 $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Deterministic faced a top-quality field, weathered a cloudburst that began just minutes before post, and sailed to his sixth consecutive stakes victory and fourth career Grade 1.

Deterministic. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

"We always thought he was special from day one," Clement said. "He's taken his training to another level. I can't keep saying enough, he's special. He's built different, distance, versatility, ground. For me, he's the leader of the division, I've been saying that for two years, and hopefully everyone agrees now."

Deterministic did not leave much room for argument as he broke well under Kendrick Carmouche and found himself second on the outside. One of the key pace contenders, dual Grade 1 winner Rhetorical, broke poorly after acting up in the gate and found himself toward the rear of the six-horse field. That allowed Deterministic to race comfortably in second as Mi Bago set fractions of :24.20, :48.54, and 1:12.19 on a course rated firm but getting pelted by rain.

Carmouche, aboard for all of Deterministic's six-race win streak put away a battling Mi Bago entering the stretch and surged clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He paid $5.22 to win as the favorite while completing a mile in 1:35.07.

Mi Bago held on for second with Zulu Kingdom finishing third.

The sudden rain storm, which naturally would come to a stop as soon as the field crossed the wire, threw a curveball to the all competitors, but Clement gave credit to his 5-year-old horse's stellar mind to handle it with ease.

"I can't say enough. The way he moves is unlike any other horse we've had in our stables," Clement said of Deterministic. He's the most efficient mover. Mentally, he's got that predisposition to just want to win. You never watch a horse reach as much as he does and how willing he is. He doesn't like his job, he loves his job. And we love him."

Deterministic. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

The 42-year-old Carmouche, a winner of more than 4,000 races, was filled with joy and praise in the winner's circle. A veteran rider whose career began in 2000, Deterministic has represented four of his six career Grade 1 wins.

"What an amazing horse," Carmouche said. "He made my career. He's 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. I'm so proud of him."

Deterministic also added to an already emotional and successful weekend for Miguel Clement on his family. Miguel's father Christophe Christophe, who died in May 2025, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Aug. 7. Deterministic's six-win streak began in the 2025 Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes, which was Christophe Clement's second-to-last graded stakes victory before his death.

Winning a second straight edition of the Fourstardave Stakes, Deterministic again earned himself an automatic fees-paid Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win And You're In" berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Last year, he was sidelined following the Fourstardave and missed the race.

Clement said he will meet with the ownership to discuss the final steppingstone to get to this year's Breeders' Cup for Deterministic, mentioning he had his eye on the Grade 1 $1 million Woodbine Mile Stakes to be held Sept. 12. -- Sean Collins