Up to the Mark Rallies to Win Turf Classic
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Up to the Mark wins the Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs
On a day they faced the lowest of lows—having their champion morning-line favorite Forte scratched from the Kentucky Derby (G1)—owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola picked up some consolation in the race before the 1 1/4-mile classic.
Racing for Repole Stable and Viola's St. Elias Stable, Up to the Mark overwhelmed rivals in the stretch to post a 3 3/4-length victory in the $1 million Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) on the grass at Churchill Downs, about 90 minutes before the Kentucky Derby.
"I separate the stings from the successes," Repole said from the Churchill winner's circle after watching Up to the Mark secure a grade 1 win in just his fourth try on the turf. "This win on a really tough day for me and my family is always going to be special and always going to be remembered."
After the drama of the morning that saw Forte scratched from the Derby, Up to the Mark kept the suspense to a minimum with his dominating victory.
Up to the Mark rated three wide in sixth under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. as early leader Bye Bye Melvin powered through a half-mile in :48.03 and six furlongs in 1:11.65, while pressed by last year's winner of this race, Santin . Finding room seven wide, Up to the Mark would launch a powerful rally entering the stretch to seize the lead and quickly open two lengths in midstretch.
He would cruise to the wire, stopping the clock in 1:47.31 on the firm turf. Hong Kong Harry was second and Spooky Channel finished third.
"He got a really good trip and was able to relax," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "He showed a nice turn of foot when called upon."
It's the second Turf Classic win for Pletcher in the past three years as Colonel Liam posted a dead-heat victory in 2021 with Domestic Spending . Ortiz knocked down his third win in the race as he was aboard Colonel Liam and in 2019 guided eventual Horse of the Year and champion turf male Bricks and Mortar to victory.
A 4-year-old son of Not This Time , Up to the Mark showed talent from the start, winning his maiden special weight debut in July going six furlongs on the dirt at Saratoga Race Course. But after that impressive debut, Up to the Mark couldn't find the winner's circle in his next four starts. In January, Pletcher gave him a try on the grass and he responded with a four-length victory in an allowance-level race. He then followed that effort with another clear victory in another allowance.
In his stakes debut in April at the Keeneland spring meet, Up to the Mark finished third in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T).
"I just had a gut feeling he would handle the turf," Pletcher said. "In that second allowance race, he had a pretty rough trip and he really showed when he got up that day that he's a pretty nice horse."
Repole said they always knew the colt was talented and they've marveled at how things have come together since the switch to the grass.
"We thought he was really, really talented on the dirt so we didn't want to give up on him (there), but then eventually we said, 'Let's go to the turf, let's go to Plan B,' which is the turf," Repole said. "I think he's going to be one of the top turf horses this year."
Repole, who after the race said he's trying to find good horses in every division—"I'm working on my steeplechase horses," he joked—partnered with St. Elias Stable in purchasing Up to the Mark for $450,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, Up to the Mark is the first stakes winner out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Belle's Finale , who is a sister to grade 3-placed Zapper Belle . The second dam of Belle's Finale is grade 1 winner Capote Belle. Belle's Finale has a yearling colt by McKinzie and a weanling colt by Maxfield .
Two-time grade 2 winner Hong Kong Harry secured his first grade 1 placing. The son of Es Que Love is owned by Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa, and Tony Valazza and trained by Phil D'Amato. Spooky Channel , a grade 2 winner, also earned his first grade 1 placing. The 8-year-old son of English Channel is owned by NBS Stable and trained by Jason Barkley.
Pletcher said the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) on the turf at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes day would be a possible next start.