Up to the Mark Rallies to Dominate Manhattan Stakes
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Up to the Mark wins the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park
Up to the Mark further cemented his status as a horse to be reckoned with on the turf when he won the $750,000 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park June 10. It was the second consecutive grade 1 victory for the 4-year-old son of Not This Time after his emphatic score in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Up to the Mark is now four-for-five on the turf for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who moved the colt to the grass after just one win from five starts on the dirt.
Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been aboard Up to the Mark in all but one of his 10 career starts, let his mount relax early, off the pace which was set by Strong Quality who led the 10-horse field through honest fractions of :23.18, :47.74, 1:12.34, and 1:36.15 over the firm inner course. Leaving the final turn, Up to the Mark was in a perfect position to commence his rally. Strong Quality was ready to throw in the towel in the stretch and Up to the Mark roared home a 2 3/4-length winner over Soldier Rising who finished a head in front of Ottoman Fleet.
Running as the 8-5 favorite, Up to the Mark returned $5.30. He completed the distance in 1:59.31.
UP TO THE MARK makes his mark in the G1 Manhattan pres. by @ResortsWorldNYC!
That’s three wins today for @iradortiz at #BelmontPark! @PletcherRacing pic.twitter.com/WHcydbFJj5— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 10, 2023
The win was Pletcher's first in the Manhattan, a race long dominated by trainer Chad Brown who saddled a pair of long shots this year who finished off the board: Rockemperor (ninth) and Highest Honors (sixth).
"Looked like he was nice and settled and relaxed and just waiting to let him go when the time was right," said Pletcher as headed into the paddock to saddle Forte for the Belmont Stakes (G1). "He accelerated nicely and handled the mile and quarter the way we hoped he would."
Owner Mike Repole was a bit more leisurely about getting to the paddock and was contemplating a stop in the Champagne Room for a toast before watching Forte be saddled.
"This horse is getting so much better. Todd put him on the turf, and obviously he's a different horse," Repole said. "He's a special horse. We liked him as a 2-year-old on the dirt and he's turning out to be the best turf horse in the United States right now."
Up to the Mark was bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm. He was purchased by Repole and Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable as a Keeneland September yearling for $450,000. He is out of the Ghostzapper mare Belle's Finale who was unraced. Up to the Mark is her second foal and first stakes winner.