Delaware: I'm Steppin' It Up capitalizes when Eight Thirty taken off turf

I’m Steppin’ It Up, winless in five lifetime starts on grass but with a proven affinity for Delaware Park’s main track, capitalized when Saturday’s $54,500 Eight Thirty Stakes was taken off the turf and scored a wire-to-wire victory in the one-mile event.

Ridden by Jose Caraballo for trainer Anthony Pecoraro and owner Roman Hill Farm, the 4-year-old I’m Steppin’ It Up defeated 7-5 favorite Picko’s Pride in a field reduced to five by nine scratches. The winning time over a fast track was 1:36.07.

All but one of I’m Steppin’ It Up’s five lifetime victories have come at Delaware, including last year’s off-the-turf running of the $265,000 Kent.

Picko’s Pride easily got second, nine lengths in front of Magnifi Cat, the longest shot in the field at 9-1.