In an afternoon of tight finishes, Up to the Mark and Master of The Seas treated the Keeneland crowd to one final encore performance to end the day in the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T).
Up to the Mark’s razor-thin victory over the European invader gave trainer Todd Pletcher the rare feat of capturing two of the Keeneland fall meet’s biggest prizes in back-to-back years, as Locked had scored in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) one race earlier to give the trainer a second straight win in that race as well.
In the Turf Mile, the two favorites raced nearly next to each other for much of the journey Oct. 7, with the Godolphin homebred Master of The Seas, fresh off a rousing triumph in the Woodbine Mile (G1T), getting the jump on Up to the Mark into the stretch. Up to the Mark’s powerful closing punch had carried him to back-to-back grade 1 wins in the Turf Classic (G1T) and Manhattan Stakes (G1T) earlier in the year, but it was uncertain if the rangy bay would feel the effects of a four-month layoff in the final drive for the wire.
The answer would reveal itself with each step as jockey Jose Ortiz was able to get Up to the Mark in the clear in deep stretch. The colt secured the photo by a nose.
“I knew it was super tight; I knew we had the momentum and I thought we got the surge,” Pletcher said. “And I saw Jose (Ortiz) wave his whip like he got the surge, but I wanted to wait until they ran the numbers first. He put in an exceptional late run and was able to get there in time.
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“It takes a talented horse to do that coming off the layoff. He hadn’t run since June and he just defeated a deep field of grade 1 horses today.”
Ortiz, who had strategically lapped onto Master of The Seas throughout the race, was confident he had gotten there at the finish.
“At the eighth pole, I knew I had a lot of horse, and when I finally got clear, he gave me a good kick, so I was very confident I got a shot, and I’m glad we got there first,” Ortiz said.
The jockey also notched a grade 1 double Saturday, guiding Locked to victory earlier in the Breeders’ Futurity.
“It’s an amazing day. Winning two grade 1s in the same day isn’t easy,” Ortiz said. “I’m just thankful to the owners and the opportunities Todd gave me to ride his horses.”
Last year’s Turf Mile victor, Annapolis , also trained by Pletcher, stalked early fractions of :23.75, :47.31, and 1:10.49, and grabbed the lead turning for home before getting passed late in the final sixteenth. Arlington Million (G1T) winner Set Piece , the race trailer, rallied on the outside to edge him for third, three lengths behind the runner-up.
Up to the Mark returned $6.58 as the second choice behind Master of The Seas. He was timed in 1:34.18 for the mile on a firm course.
Pletcher can add to his back-to-back glory at Keeneland in the Spinster Stakes (G1) Oct. 8 when he saddles morning-line favorite Nest . Last year, the trainer won the Breeders’ Futurity with Forte , the Turf Mile with Annapolis, and the Spinster with Malathaat .
Even though Up to the Mark, a $450,000 purchase for owners Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables, was cutting back to a mile after a pair of longer races, Pletcher said, “I wasn’t worried about the distance. I was worried about if he was ready enough to run to his capabilities off the layoff.”
Up to the Mark’s versatility could play into his favor come Breeders’ Cup time. Although the Turf Mile was a “Win and You’re In” event for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T), Pletcher said the $ 4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at 1 1/2 miles also is a viable option. Both races are Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
Master of The Seas could also be Breeders’ Cup bound following his gallant runner-up effort. Trainer Charlie Appleby reported that the Godolphin color bearer would be taken “back home” and evaluated before their team makes a final decision. The Dubawi gelding earned his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Mile with his Breeders’ Cup Challenge win in the Woodbine Mile.
“He was beaten by a good horse,” Appleby said. “We thought (Up to the Mark’s) lack of fitness would give us the edge there, but he nosed us on the line.”
Up to the Mark is by fourth crop stallion Not This Time . The leading second- and third-crop sire of his generation, Not This Time entered Saturday ranked eighth on the general sires list. A son of Giant’s Causeway, he stood the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $135,000 at Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky. In addition to Up to the Mark, Not This Time is represented by a second grade 1 winner this year in Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) hero Sibelius .
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