The 2023 recognition of Up to the Mark as champion male turf horse will ensure that one of the top seasons in North American grass racing in terms of distance versatility at the highest level of racing—specifically a six-month stretch to close the racing year—will long be celebrated.
On May 6 the then 4-year-old Up to the Mark landed the first stakes win of his career—arriving at the highest level when he overwhelmed seven rivals in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs. After winning "the race before the Derby" at 1 1/8 miles, Up to the Mark successfully stretched out to 1 1/4 miles on Belmont Stakes Day to win the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) by 2 3/4 lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, the son of 2021 leading second-crop sire Not This Time then cut back to a mile and beat top international competition at Keeneland. In the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), Up to the Mark unleashed a furious rally in deep stretch to edge Master of The Seas by a nose. (Godolphin homebred Master of The Seas would capture the Breeders' Cup Mile, G1T, next out.)
More top-line international talent awaited Up to the Mark in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), where he would stretch out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time. Joining Up to the Mark in that field, arguably the strongest of the 2023 Breeders' Cup races, were four other runners in the top 20 of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities World's Best Racehorse Rankings in 2023 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) winner Mostahdaf, 2023 Epsom Derby (G1)/Irish Derby (G1) winner Auguste Rodin, and group 1 winners Onesto and and King of Steel. Up to the Mark would defeat three of those runners when he finished second by three-quarters of a length to Auguste Rodin.
The championship for Up to the Mark adds to the successes for the partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables. Beyond their individual achievements, these two owners have teamed to campaign two other recent champions in 2019 older dirt male Vino Rosso and 2022 2-year-old male Forte .
Up to the Mark was trained by Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for all of his 2023 starts except the Turf Mile, where brother Jose Ortiz was aboard.
"I think he showed that he belongs with all the top turf horses in the world," Pletcher said after the Breeders' Cup Turf. "It came down to one guy getting through on the inside at the critical moment. That's turf racing. I think he lost nothing in defeat. It was a gallant effort and I am very proud of him."
