Ready Set saves day for stablemate Nicanor

As expected by the public that bet the entry to 3-5 favoritism, the Lael Stables of Roy and Gretchen Jackson got the winner's share of the $50,700 purse in Wednesday's Eight Thirty Stakes at Delaware Park. But it wasn't Nicanor who got the job done.

Nicanor, the little brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, was considered by far the stronger part of the entry for Lael Stables in the mile-and-70-yard turf stakes. Instead, it was unheralded Ready Set ($3.40) who saved the day for win bettors and set a course record in the process.

Ready Set, winless in four previous starts on turf and mired in a 15-race losing streak, got up by a head over pacesetter Hugo while completing the distance on a course rated firm in 1:38.93. The previous record at a distance seldom run at Delaware was 1:39.84, set by All Together on July 5, 2009.

It was Ready Set's first win since he captured the West Virginia Derby in 2008. He did show signs of life last time out by finishing a close third in a 7 1/2-furlong turf race.

"My horse ran great," said jockey Brian Hernandez, who rode the 5-year-old Ready Set for trainer Ronny Werner. "They went quick in front of us, but he settled in real nice. He ran big in his last race, his first race after a little layoff, and he stepped his game today. He was there for us the whole way."

Nicanor, 3 for 3 on Delaware's grass course coming into the race, raced in second for the first six furlongs before fading in deep stretch to finish sixth of seven runners, beaten seven lengths.