Up to the Mark is a spirited contender who has danced his way into the history books with a trio of Grade I victories: Turf Classic Stakes, Manhattan Stakes, and Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes, setting the 2023 racing scene ablaze with his feats. But what is particularly captivating about Up to the Mark is his narrative arc, from a promising youngster on dirt to a turf titan, showcasing a story of growth, learning, and eventual mastery.
As a fresh-faced three-year-old, he sprinted to triumph in a Maiden Special Weight race, a dazzling six furlongs of dirt, on July 21, 2022, at the Saratoga. Yet, this victory stood as a solitary star in the dark, for the following four races saw him grappling with shadows, his earlier success on the dirt eluding him. Hence, his connections decided to try him on turf, sending him to Florida.
In a twist fit for the tales, Up to the Mark’s narrative took a dramatic pivot towards the welcoming arms of the turf. The transition to turf unlocked Up to the Mark’s latent prowess, allowing him to showcase his true potential. His dominant performance at Gulfstream Park was merely a prelude to the triumphant symphony he was set to compose in the 2023 season, as he majestically secured wins in five out of seven turf battles. Winning the Turf Classic Stakes, Manhattan Stakes, and the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes – all Grade I events. It is a feat that places him among the pantheon of turf legends. This isn’t just winning; it’s making a statement, a declaration of his supremacy on the grassy expanses where the ballet of racing unfolds with each thunderous stride.
As we look forward to his stud career, it’s clear that Up to the Mark carries his genetic legacy and the tale of his triumphs, the lore of a horse who transcended initial limitations to redefine his destiny. Lane’s End Farm is not just acquiring a sire; they’re welcoming a living legend, a horse whose progeny will carry forward the legacy of a champion who rose to the pinnacle of turf racing with grace, speed, and an indomitable spirit. The echo of his hooves at Lane’s End will be a reminder of his remarkable journey, inspiring future generations to race boldly, adapt wisely, and conquer gloriously.
Horse Profile
- Foaled: February 28, 2019
- Bred: Kentucky, United States
- Sex: colt
- Debuted: 2022
- Retirement: 2024
- Death: N/A
- Color and Markings: bay
- Sire: Not This Time
- Dam: Belle’s Finale
- Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC
- Breeder: Ramspring Farm
- Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
- Primary/Regular Jockeys: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Characteristics
- His trainer, Todd Pletcher, describes Up to the Mark as a “serious horse,” a sentiment that’s hard to dispute given the horse’s achievements. Winning prestigious races like the G1 Turf Classic and the G1 Manhattan, Up to the Mark has firmly established himself as one of the premier grass horses in the United States. The high-speed figures he’s posting are not just numbers but a quantitative measure of his exceptional prowess on the track.
- Irad Ortiz Jr., the jockey who has tasted victory with Up to the Mark, emphasizes the horse’s improvement and evolving hoof style since shifting his focus to turf tracks. This kind of development is crucial; it shows a horse’s ability to adapt and thrive, which, in racing, can be the difference between a good horse and a great one.
- Pletcher’s confidence in Up to the Mark’s versatility is particularly noteworthy. To have a horse that excels at both a mile and a mile-and-a-quarter distances and to perform at a Grade 1 level, no less, is a rare and valuable trait. It speaks volumes about the horse’s capability, conditioning, and the strategic foresight of his team. Up to the Mark’s dirt pedigree, juxtaposed with his excellence on turf, further underscores his adaptability and the skill of his handlers in maximizing his potential.
Major Won Races
- Turf Classic Stakes (2023)
- Manhattan Stakes (2023)
- Coolmore Turf Mile (2023)
Achievements
- Up to the Mark earned a 105 Beyer Speed.
- Four consecutive triple-digit Beyers 105, 105, 103, 100
Rankings
He ranked 3rd by Earnings in 2023.
Retirement Plan
- Up to the Mark will enter stud at Lane’s End Farm upon concluding his racing career, the farm announced on October 2, 2023.
- Since Up to the Mark boasts a lineage rooted in dirt races, coupled with stellar performances on turf tracks, his repertoire exudes a versatility hinting at a promising stud career ahead. This magnificent horse is set to grace the paddocks of Lane’s End Farm with his presence, embarking on a new chapter after his illustrious horse racing career. The transition from racetrack to stud is not merely a change in routine; it represents the dawn of a legacy, where his diverse strengths on both dirt and turf are anticipated to sire future champions, blending speed, agility, and the heart of a victor.
Up to the Mark Connections
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
- Ortiz is a successful jockey who ranked 1st in earnings and wins in 2022 and 2023.
- Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
- Trainer Pletcher is also prominent in his career, being an Eclipse Awardee and an outstanding trainer six times.
- He ranked 3rd in earnings and 9th in wins in 2023.
- He ranked 2nd in earnings and 5th in wins in 2022.
- Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC
- It is the partnership of Mike Repole and St. Elias Stable
- They ranked 4th in earnings and 38th in wins in 2023.
- They ranked 19th in earnings in 2022.
Racing Career
| Record | Earnings | Fastest Beyer Speed | Highest E Speed Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
12: 6-1-2 recheck | $2,511,050 recheck | 105 | 124 |
| WON RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Finish | Winning Time | Winning Margin | Jockey |
2022 – three-year-old season | ||||||||
July 21, 2022 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 1 | 1:10.87 | 1¼ lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
2023 – four-year-old season | ||||||||
January 28, 2023 | 1 mile | Allowance Optional Claiming | Gulfstream Park | 1 | 1:33.10 | 4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
March 4, 2023 | 1 ⅙ miles | Allowance Optional Claiming | Gulfstream Park | 1 | 1:40.10 | 1 ¼ lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
May 6, 2023 | 1⅛ miles | Turf Classic Stakes | I | Churchill Downs | 1 | 1:47.31 | 3 3/4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
June 10, 2023 | 1 ¼ miles | Manhattan Stakes | I | Belmont Park | 1 | 1:59.31 | 2 3/4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
October 7, 2023 | 1 mile | Coolmore Turf Mile | I | Keeneland | 1 | 1:34.18 | nose | Jose Ortiz |
| LOST RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Placement | Time | Lossing Margin | Jockey |
2022 – three-year-old season | ||||||||
September 3, 2022 | 1 mile | Allowance | Saratoga | 3 | 1:36.35 | (1 ¼ lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
September 29, 2022 | 1 ⅛ miles | Allowance | Aqueduct | 6 | 1:51.55 | (10 lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
November 26, 2022 | 7 furlongs | Allowance | Aqueduct | 4 | 1:26.04 | (5 ½ lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | |
December 18, 2022 | 1 mile | Allowance | Aqueduct | 4 | 1:38.64 | (9 lengths) | Manuel Franco | |
2023 – four-year-old season | ||||||||
April 14, 2023 | 1 mile | Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes | I | Keeneland | 3 | 1:33.46 | (3 ¾ lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
November 4, 2023 | 1 ½ miles | Breeders’ Cup Turf | I | Santa Anita | 2 | 2:24.30 | (¾ length) | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
Pedigree
SIRE: Not This Time
- Up to the Mark is a son of Not This Time, who won the Iroquois (G3) in 2016 and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that year.
- Not This Time is a son of Giant’s Causeway, who sired 30 career stakes winners, including 13 graded stakes winners and five grade 1 winners. His elite performers include 2022 champion 3-year-old colt and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Epicenter.
DAM: Belle’s Finale
- He comes from a female family with stakes on dirt and grass.
- Although Belle’s Finale is unraced, she is a full sister to graded-placed stakes winner and stakes producer Zapper Belle. The immediate family also has produced multiple graded stakes winners, such as Catapult, and graded stakes winners Real Courage and Duluth.
- Belle’s Finale is also an offspring of Ghostzapper and Capote Belle (Capote), a grade 1 winner and stakes producer.
- Moreover, Ghostzapper is also a remarkable horse who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2004, earned the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, was ranked “World’s Top Ranked Horse” for 2004 as compiled by the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, and was even inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012.