Up to the Mark
{{short description|American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Up to the Mark
| image_name =Up_To_The_Mark_horse.jpg
| caption =Up To The Mark before the 2023 Breeders Cup Turf
| sire = Not This Time
| grandsire = Giant's Causeway
| dam = Belle's Final
| damsire = Ghostzapper
| sex = Stallion
| country = United States
| color = Bay
| breeder =Ramspring Farm
| owner = Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
| trainer = Todd A. Pletcher
| record = 12: 6-1-2
| earnings = $2,511,050{{cite web |title=Equibase Profile of Up to the Mark |url=https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=10590054®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=Equibase |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
| race = Turf Classic Stakes (2023)
Manhattan Stakes (2023)
Coolmore Turf Mile (2023)
|awards = American Champion Male Turf Horse (2023)
| honors =
| updated =1 February 2024
}}
Up to the Mark (foaled February 29, 2019) is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2023 he won three consecutive Grade I events, the Turf Classic Stakes, Manhattan Stakes and Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes.
Background
Up to the Mark is a bay colt that was bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm. He was sired by Not This Time, a graded stakes winner who finished second in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile before his career has cut short by injury.{{cite web |last1=Wilkin |first1=Tim |title=Not This Time well represented in Saratoga's Travers |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/262602/not-this-time-well-represented-in-saratogas-travers |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=August 28, 2022}} A son of Giant's Causeway, he stood the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $135,000 at Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Kentucky.{{cite web |last1=Rollins |first1=Molly |title=Up to the Mark Noses Master of The Seas in Turf Mile; Set Piece was third and last year's Turf Mile winner, Annapolis, was fourth. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/272428/up-to-the-mark-noses-master-of-the-seas-in-turf-mile |website=BloodHorse.com |date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=October 11, 2023}} His dam Belle's Finale, an unraced three-year-old out of Grade 1 winner Capote Belle (Capote) carrying her first foal by Not This Time, was bought by Mary Leigh Patrick of Ramspring Farm at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale for $70,000. Impressed with her first foal, Belle's Finale was sent back Not This Time and in 2019 produced Up to the Mark.{{cite web |last1=Petrunyak |first1=Katie |title=Ramspring Farm Hits the Mark with a Top-Class Turfer |url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/hes-definitely-the-best-that-weve-ever-had-here-ramspring-farm-breeds-top-class-turfer/ |website=thoroughbreddailynews.com |date=June 19, 2023 |access-date=October 11, 2023}} Ramspring Farm, a breed-to-sell operation, sent Up to the Mark to the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sales and he was purchased by Mike Repole of Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable for $450,000.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Karen M. |title=Up to the Mark Rallies to Dominate Manhattan Stakes; The colt earned his second consecutive grade 1 score. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/269326/up-to-the-mark-rallies-to-dominate-manhattan-stakes |website=BloodHorse.com |date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=October 11, 2023}}
Career
Up to the Mark began his racing career as a three-year-old in a Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga on July 21, 2022, winning the six-furlong event on the dirt. However, after five more unsuccessful tries on the dirt Up to the Mark was sent to Florida and his connections decided to try him on the turf track.
In January 2023, trainer Todd Pletcher gave him a try on the grass and he responded with a four-length victory in an allowance-level race at Gulfstream Park. He then followed that effort with another clear victory in another allowance.
In his stakes debut in April 2023 at the Keeneland spring meet, Up to the Mark finished third in the G1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes.{{cite web |last1=Angst |first1=Frank |title=Up to the Mark Rallies to Win Turf Classic; Hong Kong Harry was second and Spooky Channel finished third. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/268442/up-to-the-mark-rallies-to-win-turf-classic |website=BloodHorse.com |date=May 6, 2023 |access-date=October 11, 2023}}
After a successful campaign in 2023 Up to the Mark was awarded an Eclipse Award as the U.S. Male Turf Horse.{{cite web |first=Frank |last=Angst |title=Versatile Up to the Mark Named Champion Male Turf Horse; Up to the Mark earned grade 1 wins at a mile, 1 1/8 miles, and 1 1/4 miles. |url=https://www.truenicks.com/articles/274526/versatile-up-to-the-mark-named-champion-male-turf-horse |website=truenicks.com |date=25 January 2024 |access-date=1 February 2024}}
{{Expand section|date=February 2024}}
{{Clear}}
Statistics
| class = "wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:95%; font-size:90%" |
| to
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Distance ! scope="col" | Race ! scope="col" | Grade ! scope="col" | Track ! scope="col" | Odds ! scope="col" | Field ! scope="col" | Finish ! scope="col" | Winning ! scope="col" | Winning ! scope="col" | Jockey ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref |
| style="background-color:white"
|align="left" colspan=12|2022 – three-year-old season |
| style="background-color:#F8F9FA"
| {{dts|2022|Jul|21}} | {{ntsh|6}} 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | {{ntsh|6}} | 0.90* | 6 | 1 | 1:10.87 | {{ntsh|4.25}} {{frac|4|1|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:#F8F9FA"
| {{dts|2022|Sep|3}} | {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | Saratoga | 1.80* | 7 | 3 | 1:36.35 | {{ntsh |
| 1.25}} ({{frac|1|1|4}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:#F8F9FA"
| {{dts|2022|Sep|29}} | {{ntsh|9}} {{frac|1|1|8}} miles | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | Aqueduct | 3.20 | 8 | 6 | 1:51.55 | {{ntsh |
| 10}} (10 lengths)
| {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:#F8F9FA"
| {{dts|2022|Nov|26}} | {{ntsh|7}} 7 furlongs | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | Aqueduct | 1.00* | 6 | 4 | 1:26.04 | {{ntsh |
| 5.5}} ({{frac|5|1|2}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:#F8F9FA"
| {{dts|2022|Dec|18}} | {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | Aqueduct | 4.50 | 8 | 4 | 1:38.64 | {{ntsh |
| 9}} (9 lengths)
| {{sortname|Manuel|Franco}} |
| style="background-color:white"
|align="left" colspan=12|2023 – four-year-old season |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|Jan|28}} | {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | Allowance Optional Claiming | {{ntsh|5.5}} | 12.60 | 12 | 1 | 1:33.10 | {{ntsh|4}} 4 lengths | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|Mar|4}} | {{ntsh|8.5}} {{frac|1|1|16}} miles | Allowance Optional Claiming | {{ntsh|5.5}} | 0.80* | 12 | 1 | 1:40.10 | {{ntsh|1.25}} {{frac|1|1|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|14 Apr 2023|format=mdy}} | {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | {{ntsh|1.0}} I | {{ntsh|5.39}}5.39 | 8 | 3 | 1:33.46 | {{ntsh |
| 3.75}} ({{frac|3|3|4}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|May|6}} | {{ntsh|9}} {{frac|1|1|8}} miles | {{ntsh|1}} I | 2.63* | 8 | 1 | 1:47.31 | {{ntsh|3.75}} {{frac|3|3|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|Jun|10|format=mdy}} | {{ntsh|10}} {{frac|1|1|4}} miles | {{ntsh|1}} I |1.65* | 10 | 1 | 1:59.31 | {{ntsh|2.75}} {{frac|2|3|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|Oct|7}} | {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | {{ntsh|1}}I | 2.29 | 9 | 1 | 1:34.18 |{{ntsh|0.1}} nose | {{sortname|Jose|Ortiz|Jose Ortiz (jockey)}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2023|Nov|4|format=mdy}} | {{ntsh|12.0}} {{frac|1|1|2}} miles | {{ntsh|1}}I | 3.40 | 11 | 2 | 2:24.30 | {{ntsh |
| 0.75}} ({{frac|3|4}} length)
| {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} |
Legend:
{{Legend inline|lightcyan |Turf}}
{{Legend inline|#F8F9FA |Dirt}}
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Up to the Mark was the post-time favorite.
{{notelist}}
Pedigree
{{Pedigree
|name =Up to the Mark, bay colt, February 28, 2019{{cite web |title=Pedigree of Up to the Mark |url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Up%20to%20the%20Mark?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=10590054®istry=T&horse_name=Up%20to%20the%20Mark&dam_name=Belle%27s%20Finale&foaling_year=2019&include_sire_line=Y&include_truenick=Y |website=Equineline |access-date=October 8, 2023}}
|f = Not This Time
(2014)
|m = Belle's Finale
(2014)
|ff = Giant's Causeway
(1997)
|fm = Miss Macy Sue
(2003)
|mf = Ghostzapper
(2000)
|mm = Capote Belle
(1993)
|fff = Storm Cat
(1983)
|ffm = Mariah's Storm
(1991)
|fmf = Trippi
(1997)
|fmm = Yada Yada
(1996)
|mff = Awesome Again
(1994)
|mfm = Baby Zip
(1991)
|mmf = Capote
(1984)
|mmm = Rythmical
(1985)
|ffff = Storm Bird (CAN) (1978)
|fffm = Terlingua (1976)
|ffmf = Rahy (1985)
|ffmm = Immense (1979)
|fmff = End Sweep (1991)
|fmfm = Jealous Appeal (1983)
|fmmf = Great Above (1972)
|fmmm = Stem (1982)
|mfff = Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979)
|mffm = Primal Force (1976)
|mfmf = Relaunch (1976)
|mfmm = Thirty Zip (1983)
|mmff = Seattle Slew (1974)
|mmfm = Too Bald (1964)
|mmmf = Fappiano (1977)
|mmmm = Graceful Gal (1975) (family 13-c){{cite web |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines – STRAY SHOT (GB – Family 13-c |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family13c.htm |website=www.bloodlines.net |access-date=October 8, 2023}}
}}
External links
=Video=
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyynJCPGpxA&ab_channel=ThoroughbredDailyNews Ramsgate Farm, Breeders of Up to the Mark]