ELMONT, N.Y. – Many horses improve when making the switch from dirt to turf, but few have done so as dramatically as Up to the Mark, who went from a first-level allowance winner in his grass debut in January to a two-time Grade 1 winner five months later after rallying to a convincing 2 3/4-length victory over Soldier Rising in Saturday’s $750,000 Manhattan at Belmont Park. Even trainer Todd Pletcher marveled a bit at the dramatic rise Up to the Mark, a son of Not This Time owned in partnership by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has made in such a short period of time since finally getting on the grass to open his 4-year-old campaign this winter at Gulfstream Park. “He’s a horse we always felt had a lot of promise, he won his debut on the dirt, then we got a little frustrated he wasn’t moving forward so we decided to try the turf,” Pletcher recalled. “I usually don’t get too excited in a one-other-than [allowance race], but the way he won that first race [on turf] at Gulfstream, I said ‘Wow this horse is a serious grass horse.’ ” Up to the Mark – who won the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic in equally impressive fashion, by 3 3/4 lengths, going 1 1/8 miles last month at Churchill Downs – received a perfectly orchestrated trip under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Ortiz settled the 8-5 favorite in perfect position about a half-dozen lengths off a rapid pace set by longshot Strong Quality. Up to the Mark edged a bit closer on the final turn, responded readily when set down by Ortiz upon settling into the stretch, quickly overtook the tiring leader nearing the furlong grounds, and then drew off with complete authority in similar fashion as in the Turf Classic five weeks earlier. :: Get ready for summer racing with a DRF Formulator Quarterly PP plan Soldier Rising saved ground for a mile, eased out to split rivals launching his bid in early stretch, and finished willingly to outgame Ottoman Fleet to be second-best while never threatening the winner. Ottoman Fleet, winner of the Grade 2 Fort Marcy making his U.S. debut here last month, raced toward the rear of the field for nearly a mile, had to steady some from between horses awaiting room on the final turn, made a menacing run once clear out near the middle of the track at the top of the stretch, but flattened out a bit at the end. Up to the Mark completed the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.31 over the firm course and was given a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. “He got into the exact position we were hoping to, he looked like he was nice and settled and relaxed, just kind of waiting for Irad to let him go,” Pletcher said. “And when he did, he accelerated nicely and handled the mile and one-quarter like we hoped he would.” :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  Pletcher said Up to the Mark has given him the impression he might even handle a little more ground after successfully stretching out from nine to 10 furlongs in the Manhattan. “I don’t know what we do from here for sure,” Pletcher continued. “We were kind of thinking Breeders’ Cup, he’s probably the type of horse you can go two different directions with, but we probably need a little experience at a mile-and-one-half-type race to know. We’ve also got the Arlington Million at a mile and one-quarter. We’ll enjoy this one for a while, then come up with a plan.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.