I’m Steppin’ It Up led wire-to-wire in Saturday’s $57,625 Carl Hanford Memorial S. at Delaware Park, prevailing by a neck in the 1 mile and 70 yard contest. The 6-year-old son of Congrats passed the half-million dollar mark in career earnings with the victory.
Congrats has a dozen stakes horses in the first half of 2014. I’m Steppin’ It Up, who was also third in this year’s Grade 3 Westchester S., is the leading earner this season for the former Champion Sire.
In the Hanford, I’m Steppin’ It Up broke from the outside in the field of six, but made his way to the rail after an alert break. He set a solid pace of :46.71 for the half and 1:10.76 for the six furlongs, but had plenty of fight left for the stretch run, keeping Balance of Power, his closest pursuer throught, at bay to claim the victory (VIDEO).
Final time on the fast surface was 1:40.32, less than one second off the track record.
I’m Steppin’ It Up, who has now won $533,812 for his owner Roman Hill Farm, has now a four-time stakes winner. His dam Cindy Woo Who has produced three foals, all of them stakes winners. She descends from the same family as champion distaffer Beautiful Pleasure and $2.4 million earner Mecke.
