Deterministic heads loaded Fourstardave

While Burnham Square has a stranglehold on being considered America’s best turf horse over longer distances, who the country’s best turf miler might finally be resolved in a scintillating renewal of the $750,000 Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.

The Fourstardave, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge series prep for the Mile (G1) at Keeneland, is headed by Deterministic, whose five-race win streak includes the 2025 Fourstardave as well as the 1 3/16-mile Manhattan (G1) on Jun 6. Rhetorical finished fourth in the Manhattan while battling a foot fungus, but in the last year has won Grade 1s at one mile and at 1 1/8 miles.

Zulu Kingdom upset reigning turf champion Notable Speech in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) in April, was puzzlingly beaten in the Poker (G3), and then rebounded to win the Kelso (G3) in a dead heat with Mi Bago. Another intriguing contender is Lagynos, who enters on a five-stakes win streak from Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs.

Trainer Mark Casse trained the filly Get Stormy to two victories in the Fourstardave and will attempt to do the same with Classic Q, who exploited her early speed to capture the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) and Just a Game (G1). The primary outsider in the field of seven is Poker runner-up Capitol Hill.

The $750,000 Saratoga Derby (G1) over 1 3/16 miles features a rematch between the top three finishers from the July 4 Belmont Derby (G1). It was a tight photo, with German 2000 Guineas (G2) hero Title Role nosing out West End Kid, with Remember Mamba another neck behind in third.

“We always knew racing in America would suit him very well with how well he races around the turns, as opposed to the longer straights in Europe,” said Will Stroud, the owner of Title Role. “He just really covers the ground so well around the turns and appreciates the ground here.”

West End Kid, who had previously captured the Pennine Ridge (G3), will race without blinkers for the first time since his debut on Saturday. Remember Mamba, favored at around 3-2 in the Belmont Derby, previously won the Transylvania (G3) and finished second in the American Turf (G1).

Two others from the Belmont Derby are back, and neither was far behind the top trio. Bottas and Pacific Avenue were fifth and seventh, respectively, while losing by only 1 1/4 lengths. Bottas, though, was cross-entered in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) on Friday.

A new shooter from England is Glacius, who has placed in three consecutive stakes including a pair of Group 3s. Heeere’s Johnny and Glavine were first and third, respectively, in the restricted Saranac S., while McCready and The Big Con would need to improve considerably off their latest stakes victories.