Up to the Mark

The parade of graded stakes races this Saturday is like a Christmas tree laden with presents. Towards the end of the celebration, as the wadded paper congregates, there will be a customary wistfulness that slowly sets in. We never want it to end. With 17, yes 17, graded races on the docket--nine of those have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' status--it is going to be a splendid day to receive as Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland Race Course, Woodbine Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Hastings Racecourse and Santa Anita Park...

It's a busy time at Keeneland. The September sale has just ended, the fall race meet is upon us and the November sale is right around the corner. With that in mind, the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland called upon Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach to fill us in on the latest from one of America's favorite racetracks. Breathnach was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. The foal crop keeps dropping every year, but that doesn't seem to affect the September sale. There were...

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's MGISW Up to the Mark (Not This Time--Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper), will enter stud at Lane's End Farm at the conclusion of his racing career, the Kentucky Farm announced on Monday. The 4-year-old colt, who won the GI Manhattan S. At Belmont Park and the GI Turf Classic Stakes in his last two starts, has so far amassed a career line of 10-5-0-2, $1158,650 and is trained by Todd Pletcher. "He's a horse that we were always high on since he was two," trainer...

Before bidding commenced for the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a share in leading Taylor Made stallion Not This Time (Giant's Causeway--Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi) was hammered down for an even $2 million. The share was purchased by D. J. Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Barry Fowler and John Cummins, according to Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. The sale of the share was coordinated by Taylor Made Sales and is subject to a 10-day match from the syndicate. Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville,...

Shadwell's Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) dominated the G1 Prince of Wales's S. by four lengths at Royal Ascot last month and improved his Longines World's Best Racehorse Ranking (WBRR) from 121 to 128 to sit second behind the 129-ranked Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) on the leaderboard, with the latest rankings released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on Thursday. Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who was second as the favourite in the 10-furlong contest, sits on 123 while Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was third home and is weighted...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y--Nothing new at old Saratoga this summer. As has been the case for many decades, most of racing's stars will be in town for America's most important Thoroughbred meet of the year. The first race of the 40 days of the 155th season opens at 1:10 p.m. Thursday with a 10-race program at Saratoga Race Course. By the time the meeting reaches its conclusion on Labor Day, Sept. 4, over 400 races, including 71 stakes worth $20.8 million, will have been run. The traditional opening-day feature is the...

The rest of the Patrick family had all come and gone by the time Belle's Finale (Ghostzapper) was preparing to sell at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, but Mary Leigh Patrick was there to watch as the pretty bay mare stepped into the ring. Mary Leigh had decided to hold out for the rest of the session, hoping to find one last addition for Ramspring Farm's broodmare band ahead of another breeding season. The octogenarian knew she had accomplished the mission when she spotted Belle's Finale, an unraced 3-year-old out...

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Up To the Mark (Not This Time) consolidated his position at the top of the American turf division with a second straight dominating performance at the top level in Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. at Belmont Park. Made the 8-5 chalk on the strength of a much-the-best victory in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs May 6, the $450,000 Keeneland September graduate was away in good order and landed just ahead of centerfield...

Recent G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) has moved into a joint-third at 124 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR). The Hong Kong galloper is equal to Japan's Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who won the G1 Sheema Classic in Dubai, sits atop the list at 129, with fellow Hong Kong-based horse Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) second at 125. Other horses making the list following the latest ranking period are G1 All Aged S. hero Giga Kick (Aus) (Scissor...

Having swallowed the most bitter of bitter pills earlier in the morning with news that Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) was being scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby, owner Mike Repole was handed a measure of consolation when Up to the Mark (Not This Time) came rolling down the center of the Matt Winn turf course to prove a comprehensive winner of the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. Exchanging bumps at the break with Earls Rock (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Up to the Mark...

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...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency MOTT SADDLES ANOTHER INTO MISCHIEF 'ROCKET' 2nd-CD, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:14p.m. Frank Fletcher and Bill Mott have enjoyed success with offspring of Into Mischief in the past with MGSW Frank's Rockette and they debut a son of that super sire here in ROCKET ONE. The $600,000 KEESEP acquisition is a half to GSP Dancing Belle (First Samurai). Their dam is a half to MGSW and millionaire Last Gunfighter (First Samurai) and dual graded winner Tiger Moth (Street Sense). TJCIS PPs   PRICEY NOT THIS...