Up to the Mark ‘Nose’ Way To the Wire in Coolmore Turf Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

Defying a four-month absence and 6-5 favorite Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's UP TO THE MARK (c, 4, Not This Time–Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper) looked to have it all to do turning for home in Saturday's GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, but the $450,000 Keeneland September acquisition exploded inside the final sixteenth of a mile and dropped his nose on the wire just ahead of the Godolphin runner, securing a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 4.

Defending champion 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) won the break and showed the way under the line for the first time, but the U.S.-debuting Indestructile (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was intent on making the lead and did so entering the clubhouse turn. Up to the Mark, racing for the first time since winning the GI Manhattan S. over a mile and quarter in early June, was content to linger at the rear, covering the last-out GI Woodbine Mile hero as the field hit the backstretch.

Last but one into the far turn, Up to the Mark did not appear to be traveling that well and was urgently ridden by Jose Ortiz, giving his chief market rival a golden opportunity to get the jump on him. Master of the Seas did just that, setting sail for the wire, but Up to the Mark was up to the task, as he delivered a flying finish to take it by a nose to a short head. The final time was 1:34.18, some 0.48 slower than the GI First Lady S., albeit with different dynamics.

Saturday, Keeneland
COOLMORE TURF MILE S.-GI, $1,000,000, Keeneland, 10-7, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.18, fm.
1–UP TO THE MARK, 126, c, 4, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Capote Belle, by Capote
                3rd Dam: Rythmical, by Fappiano
($450,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $589,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-0-2, $1,831,050. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Master of The Seas (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth of Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $190,000.
3–Set Piece (GB), 126, g, 7, Dansili (GB)–Portodora, by Kingmambo. O/B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Brad H. Cox. $95,000.
Margins: NO, 3, HF. Odds: 2.29, 1.23, 8.68.
Also Ran: Annapolis, English Bee, Harlan Estate, Stitched, Atone, Indestructible (Ire).

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

WOW #5 UP TO THE MARK ($6.58) runs down favored Master of the Seas (Ire) to win the $1 million GI Coolmore Turf Mile in a thriller at Keeneland!

The son of @TMStallions's Not This Time was ridden by @jose93_ortiz for @PletcherRacing, @RepoleStable & St Elias Stable. pic.twitter.com/XerGXcnigI

— TVG (@TVG) October 7, 2023

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