Up to the Mark Dazzles in Saratoga Opener

The result of the first race at Saratoga Race Course July 21 was worth the wait for co-owner Mike Repole of Repole Stables. 

Repole, along with his partner Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable, watched their 3-year-old colt Up to the Mark  romp to a 4 1/4-length win over a sloppy track in the six-furlong race.

"This is a horse I wanted to see," Repole, making his first appearance at Saratoga this season, said in the winner's circle.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Up to the Mark, a son of Not This Time  , was unraced as a 2-year-old. Repole and Viola paid $450,000 for the colt at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Repole said the colt did not run as a juvenile because of an unspecified minor issue.

"We loved this horse as a 2-year-old, he was training so good," Repole said "The great thing about Todd, Vinnie, and myself is that we are very patient. Our racing managers do a great job. When you have a lot of horses, when they need time, you give them time."

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Up to the Mark went off as the 4-5 favorite. Repole said there will be no rushing this horse moving forward.

"This is a very, very, very talented horse that we are really excited about," Repole said. "He did it so easy. I think he is going to be a noise maker at 4. We are going to treat him like a nice 2-year-old, even though he's 3."

Repole said there is no schedule for Up to the Mark to keep but did say the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in November could be a season-ending goal.