Up in Time rallies furiously to upset San Clemente

Up in Time might be Del Mar Oaks-bound (Benoit Photos) Anthony Ramsden’s UP IN TIME (GB) (Noverre) ran true to her name in Sunday’s $150,000 San Clemente H. (G2) at Del Mar, collaring the front-running 9-5 favorite Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast) in deep stretch to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths. The 11-shot handed jockey Rafael Bejarano his third winner on the day, and presented trainer Simon Callaghan with a memorable first victory at the seaside track. Up in Time rewarded her backers with $25.40, $9.60 and $6.40. Up in Time was coming off a fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Honeymoon H. (G2) to Sarah’s Secret (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), but turned the form upside down on Sunday. Indeed, the previously-unbeaten Sarah’s Secret wound up sixth as the slight second choice at 9-5 in the San Clemente. While Up in Time was reserved off the pace in midpack, Mizdirection sprinted right to the early lead and carved out fractions of :22 3/5 and :47. Great Hot (Brz) (Orientate) launched a challenge on the far turn through six furlongs in 1:11 2/5, but Mizdirection quickened smartly at the top of the stretch and opened up on her pursuers.

Just when Mizdirection loomed as a wire-to-wire threat, Up in Time burst from
the pack as the only closer gaining ground. The unheralded chestnut unleashed a
fine turn of foot to blow past Mizdirection, finishing the firm-turf mile in
1:34 3/5 to register her first career stakes victory.

Another 2 1/4 lengths back in third came the rallying Celestial Kitten
(Kitten’s Joy). Rosehill Dew (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) edged Great Hot for fourth,
and they were followed home by Sarah’s Secret, Bonita Star (GB) (Beat Hollow
[GB]), Fifth Commandment (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor), Justenufappeal (Exchange
Rate) and Fifth Ave (GB) (Avonbridge). The also-eligible Carousel (GB) (Pivotal)
stayed on the sidelines.

Up in Time boosted her bankroll to $138,576 from her 8-3-0-1 line. Based in
England with William Knight as a juvenile, she romped by seven lengths in a
seven-furlong auction maiden at Newmarket and concluded 2010 with a seventh in
the Oh So Sharp S. (Eng-G3) over the same course and distance.

Up in Time made her American debut for Callaghan in the March 13 China Doll
S. at Santa Anita, checking in fifth, and two starts later, cleared her
entry-level allowance condition in a six-furlong turf sprint at Hollywood Park
on May 19. The step up to nine furlongs proved a bit much in the June 11
Honeymoon, but she was still beaten only a length for it all.

Bred by Larry Stratton in Great Britain, Up in Time fetched $40,955 as a
yearling at Tattersalls October. The first registered foal from the Inchinor
(GB) mare Up at Dawn, she comes from the family of English Group 3 victress
Summer Fete (Pivotal), multiple Group 1-placed stakes queen Musicanna (Cape
Cross [Ire]), multiple Group 1-winning stayer Royal Gait (Gunner B) and multiple
champion sprinter Overdose (Starborough), the “Budapest Bullet” who was fourth
in the June 14 King’s Stand S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot.