Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Up to the Mark (Not This Time) and Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) were named turf champions during Thursday's Eclipse Award ceremony in Florida.
Up the Mark won three straight Grade I events, starting off with the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic in May, adding the GI Manhattan S. in June and the GI Coolmore Turf Mile in October. On championship weekend, he found just European invader Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) too good while trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
Inspiral secured her spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mark Turf via the 'Win and You're In' G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard Jacques Le Marois. Championship weekend would mark her only start in the U.S., but without a clear domestic standout, that Breeders' Cup win was enough to best Americans not only on their home turf but in the Eclipse Awards, where she was named champion turf female.
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