Churchill Downs: See who won on the Derby undercard
Up to the Mark became a Grade 1 winner in style as he romped to a 3 3/4-length victory in the 37th running of the $1 million Turf Classic for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Up to the Mark completed the 1 1/8-mile race over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:47.31. It is the third victory in the race for Pletcher and second for Ortiz.
Pletcher won with Colonel Liam in 2021 and English Channel in 2006. Ortiz won with Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in 2019.
Bye Bye Melvin set the pace with fractions of 23.91, 48.03 and 1:11.65 while getting token pressure from 2022 race winner Santin as Up to the Mark raced in midpack while in the clear.
On the far turn, Up to the Mark began picking off horses and hit the top of the stretch four wide and with a full head of steam. He surged to the front approaching the eighth and was not threatened in the run to the finish.
Pletcher expressed pleasure with Up to the Mark's development since he was switched to the turf in January.
“It unfolded beautifully. He got a really good trip, was able to save a little ground. The horse relaxed nicely and had a good turn of foot when called upon," he said. "We’ll probably go to the Manhattan on Belmont Day (June 10) next.”
Now three for four on the grass, Up to the Mark is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time out of the Ghostzapper mare Belle’s Finale. The victory was worth $601,400 and increased his earnings to $829,550 with a record of 9: 4-0-2.
Up to the Mark returned $7.26, $4 and $2.96. Hong Kong Harry (IRE) rallied for second under Flavien Prat and returned $4.12 and $2.88 and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Spooky Channel, who paid $3.32 to show under Joel Rosario.
It was another head back to Ocean Atlantique with Santin, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Earls Rock and Bye Bye Melvin.
Fluffy Socks finds seam in stretch of Distaff Turf Mile
Fluffy Socks split horses at the three-sixteenths pole to grab the lead and go on to a length victory over favored Spendarella in the 38th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile for fillies and mares.
Trained by Chad Brown, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and bred and owned
by Head of Plains Partners, Fluffy Socks covered the mile on a firm Matt Winn turf course in 1:35.53.
It is the fourth victory in the race for Brown, who won last year with Speak of the Devil, in 2021 with Blowout and in 2017 with Roca Rojo. Ortiz won the race in 2020 on Beau Recall.
Haughty set the pace in the field of six with fractions of 23.62 and 47.84 seconds, with Spendarella stalking in second and Fluffy Socks racing fifth.
At the head of the stretch Spendarella took over only to have Fluffy Socks shoot between her and a fading Haughty to strike the front and maintain her advantage to the wire.
The victory was worth $306,900 and increased Fluffy Socks’ earnings to $994,580 with a record of 18: 5-7-2. Fluffy Socks is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Slumber out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Breakfast Time.
Fluffy Socks returned $11.96, $3.92 and $2.64. Spendarella, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.72 and $2.28 and finished a length in front of Speak of the Devil, who paid $3.10 to show under Flavien Prat.
Wakanaka finished another nose back in fourth and was followed in order by Sharp Hero and Haughty.
"We really liked our (post) position," said Ortiz. "That was a key to it. She broke sharp and I was able to get her right in the race."
Nobals digs in to win Twin Spires Turf Sprint
Patricia’s Hope’s Nobals took the lead shortly after the start and repelled all challenges to win the 29th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Larry Rivelli and ridden by Gerardo Corrales, Nobals covered the 5 1/2 furlongs on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:02.45.
Breaking from the inside, Nobals led the field through an opening quarter of 22.03 seconds while under pressure from Noble Reflection. Corrales maintained his spot along the rail entering the stretch and quickly opened a clear advantage with enough cushion to hold off a late bid from Motorious.
The first graded-stakes victory for Nobals was worth $291,400 and increased his earnings to $725,074 with a record of 14: 7-2-0.
Nobals is 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Noble Mission out of the Empire Maker mare Pearly Blue.
Nobals returned $78.42, $34.62 and $17.56. Motorious returned $5.76 and $4.46 under Flavien Prat and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Go Bears Go, who paid $7.12 to show under John Velazquez.
It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Noble Reflection, who was followed in order by favored Arrest Me Red, Bad Beat Brian, Big Invasion, Evan Sing, Oceanic, Just Might and Carotari.
"We were all coming down, and figured that we would throw him into a race, and see how he’d do," Rivelli said. "I thought he was going to run good, I wasn’t sure if he was going to win. His last race (at Keeneland) was a throwout. He was acting up in the gate and got off to a bad start.
"I schooled him all week, he didn’t act up in the gate at all, so I told the kid (Corrales), ‘Let’s go.’ That’s the way the horse likes to run. I knew he was going to show up, but I wasn’t sure if he could beat this quality. I told the jockey, go no matter what. You go out there and make the lead, and he said, ‘Yes, sir’."
"This is a nice horse," said Corrales. "He was a runner all the way. Mr. Rivelli (trainer Larry Rivelli) told me that I could do it and he wished me good luck. For me, this is the biggest purse ($500,000) that I’ve ever won. It’s exciting."