Wilmington, Del., September 24, 2011 — Trainer Anthony Pecoraro notched his 1,000th career victory when I’m Steppin’ It Up won the $250,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park today. The Kent Stakes was originally scheduled for the turf, but was transferred to the main track after heavy rains soaked the area yesterday.

With Jeremy Rose aboard, the 3-year-old son of Congrats notched a 2-length front running score. The Florida-bred cut early fractions of :49.04 for the half mile and 1:13.18 for the three-quarters mile before completing the mile and an eighth in 1:50.50 over a good main track. He returned $10.80 as the third-choice in the field of six.

“That was nice, it was really nice to win my 1,000th race in the Kent Stakes,” said winning trainer Anthony Pecoraro. “He is a nice and he has been good, but he has just been growing up. I am not sure where we are going next, but he is a Florida-bred so we would like to aim for the Sunshine Millions, but I am not sure where we are going to go from here.”

The 47-year-old native of Long Island, New York, recorded his first career win as a trainer in 1984. He has been a regular Delaware Park trainer since 1997.

The 4-to-5 race favorite King Congie, with Joseph Rocco Jr., finished second 2 ¾-lengths in front of Fire With Fire, with Gabriel Saez, in third.

The Kent Stakes was the first career stakes victory for I’m Steppin’ It Up who raised his lifetime record to three wins from 14 starts with earnings of $321,566.