1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-21, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.87, sy, 4 1/4 lengths.
UP TO THE MARK (c, 3, Not This Time–Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper) tipped his hand with a well-touted local worktab, highlighted by a half-mile gate move over the training track in :48 flat (3/37) July 7, and was backed down to 9-10 favoritism. Tracking the pace from a three-wide third through a :22.44 quarter, the $450,000 Keeneland September grad drew in on the pacesetter alongside Be There (Medaglia d'Oro) passing a half in :45.83, and those two went on with it entering the lane. Soon edging to the front, Up to the Mark drifted out at the furlong grounds, but straightened out outside the sixteenth pole and finished strong for a 4 1/4-length triumph. Citizen Mack (Quality Road) ran on late to complete the exacta. The winner shares a second dam, 1996 GI Test S. heroine Capote Belle (Capote), with MGSWMGISP Catapult (Kitten's Joy). He has a juvenile Mendelssohn half-sister named Crumbling Cookie who most recently worked a half-mile in :48 flat (4/38) July 15 at Monmouth, a yearling half-sister by West Coast and a McKinzie half-brother of this season. His unraced dam was bred to Maxfield for 2023. Sales History: $450,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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