Lael Stable’s Ready Set scored an upset victory against his entry-mate, Nicanor, in the $50,700 Eight Thirty Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Brian Joseph Hernandez aboard, Ready Set chased the early pacesetter Hugo, who set fractions of :45.47 for the half mile and 1:09.20 for the three-quarters mile, before defeating his foe in the final jumps. Tybalt finished third 1 ¼-lengths behind the winner. The mile and seventy yards on a firm turf was run in a course record time of 1:38.93. Nicanor, a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, finished sixth of seven. The Ready Set/Nicanor entry returned $3.40.

Ready Set had been winless in his last 15 starts dating back to August of 2008 when the Kentucky-bred trained by Ronny Werner notched a victory in the $750,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. In his most recent outing, the 5-year-old son of Touch Gold ran third in a seven a half furlong turf allowance at Delaware Park on July 28. His career record is five wins from 27 starts with earnings of $731,029.

“My horse ran great,” said winning rider Brian Joseph Hernandez. “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.”

Hernandez was surprised the early pacesetter Hugo did not got tired after setting a rapid early pace before finishing second.

“I was actually,” he said. “When I got inside a rival, I thought the leader was going to comeback to us fast. My horse had to run him down pretty hard to get to him. The horse that ran second really ran a game race.”