By Stefanie Grimm
It's the end of an era for the Virginia Derby.
After 21 editions dating back to 1998 at Colonial Downs, the 1 1/8-mile turf event that historically anchors the Closing Day card will move to the main track and be conducted in March as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. And so it seems only fitting that a pair of horses who took on the Triple Crown trail just this season brought this race down to the wire with GIII Gotham Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) getting the better of GI Curlin Florida Derby third and GI Kentucky Derby runner Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo).
Traditionally contested at 1 1/2 miles up until 2015 when it moved briefly to Laurel Park, the Virginia Derby has graced the resumes of such turf stars as Kitten's Joy (El Prado), English Channel (Smart Strike) and Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat).
Favored to take the GII Wood Memorial Stakes off his run in the Gotham, Deterministic came home a non-factor eighth and was subsequently disappointing when fifth in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes. Re-routed off the Derby trail, the son of Liam's Map got on the grass for the first time and put in solid efforts to hit the board in both the GIII Manilla Stakes and, most recently, the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 11. With new rider Manny Franco aboard for Christophe Clement, Deterministic shipped out of New York for the first time and arrived at Colonials Downs Friday afternoon. Breaking just outside of eventual runner up Grand Mo the First, the even-money favorite was quickly marred in traffic trouble into the first turn and forced to settle with runners on all sides up the backstretch run paced by longshot Izzy d'Oro (Get Stormy). Fifth with a wall of horses in front of him past the half-mile pole in :48.47, Deterministic was crying out for running room and found it when angled out just off the far turn. Grand Mo the First, who cornered just in front of him, got the first jump and the pair put in a solid effort inside the final sixteenth with Deterministic just getting the better of his rival in the last stride or two.
“Every time I come with a good mind, which gives me a good chance to win races,” said Franco who won seven races on the 12-race card Saturday. “I had a good trip. By the 5/8 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.”
Pedigree Note:
One of 26 stakes winners for Liam's Map, Deterministic was a $625,000 Keeneland September Yearling for St. Elias Stables in 2022. He is the second to last foal out of Giulio's Jewel who is a perfect three-for-three runners to winners but sadly passed in 2022 after foaling a Nyquist filly now named Morana. The extended family includes MGSW/GISP Rainha da Bateria (Broken Vow), GSW/GISP Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer) and GI Breeder's Cup Juvenile runner up He's Had Enough (Tapit).
#3 DETERMINISTIC ($4) by Liam's Map gets clear late to rally on the outside and win the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) at @ColonialDowns. What a day for @jockeyfranco who now has 6 wins on the card. Congrats to all the connections! pic.twitter.com/HelT780ktj
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2024
NEW KENT COUNTY VIRGINIA DERBY-GIII, $504,000, Colonial Downs, 9-7, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.76, fm.
1–DETERMINISTIC, 123, c, 3, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Acadiana, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Amelia, by Dixieland Band
'TDN Rising Star'. ($625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-St. Elias Stable,
Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle
Farms (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Manuel Franco. $300,000.
Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-3-1-1, $667,750. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Grand Mo the First, 120, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Lilies So Fair, by
Giant's Causeway. ($125,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $135,000 Ylg
'22 FTKOCT; $335,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Granpollo
Stable; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Victor Barboza, Jr. $100,000.
3–Desvio, 120, g, 3, Yoshida (Jpn)–Fitzrovia, by Uncle Mo.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $70,000
Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Stonelea Stable LLC and Bonnie Rye Stable;
B-Eliza St George & Lee Mauberret (KY); T-Madison F. Meyers.
$55,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 1.00, 3.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Echo Lane, Zverev, Massif, Fulmineo, Frontline Warrior, Izzy d'Oro. Scratched: Herchee, In a Jam, Oscar's World.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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