“He's a serious horse.”
That was Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's assessment of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Up to the Mark after the 4-year-old colt by Not This Time nosed out 6-5 favorite Master of the Seas in Saturday's Grade 1, $1-million Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland.
Under a skillful ride by Jose Ortiz, Up to the Mark was winning his third consecutive Grade 1 race at distances from the one mile of Saturday's contest to the mile and a quarter of the Manhattan in his last start at Belmont Park on June 10. That kind of versatility gives Pletcher options for the 40th running of the Breeders' Cup, to be held at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4. The Coolmore Turf Mile is a “Win and You're In” Challenge Series race for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile, but the Hall of Fame trainer indicated the mile and one-half G1 Turf would be an option, too, depending on how Up to the Mark comes out of this race.
Second choice in the wagering at 2-1, Up to the Mark completed the mile on firm turf in 1:34.18, nearly a half second slower than Gina Romantica's final time in the G1 First Lady at the same distance two races earlier. He paid $6.58 to win.
Irish-bred Godolphin runner Master of the Seas – winner of the G1 Woodbine Mile last out Sept. 16 – looked a sure winner after overtaking Pletcher's other runner, Annapolis, in mid-stretch, but had to settle for a hard-luck second. Set Piece rallied for third, with Annapolis fourth of nine runners.
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