Steppin Out stepped lively during a determined uncovered bid and rolled on to victory in Wednesday’s opening leg of the Unefoisdansmavie Trot at The Meadows.
Donatos Peach and Silent Opera K also took $17,500 splits in the series for three-year-old filly trotters named for Unefoisdansmavie, a fast-class trotter currently competing at The Meadows for the Ron Burke stable.
Steppin Out took a mark of 1:57.2 as a freshman, but had been hampered by recent gaiting problems. Trainer Chas Norris equipped her with hopples Wednesday, and she flashed her old form, scoring in 1:58.2 for Dan Rawlings. Exclusive Photo was second, half a length back, with Glide By Shooting third. Glat Kosher Racing campaigns Steppin Out, a daughter of Yankee Glide-Quantum Darling.
In something of an oddity, Unefoisdansmavie raced in the $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap on the same card that featured the series named for her. Poetic as a win might have been for her, it was not to be, as she encountered a buzz saw named Daylon Miracle, who earned her sixth victory in her last seven starts.
Aaron Merriman moved Daylon Miracle twice -- once for position from post eight and once on a relentless first-over mission that carried her past the leader, Magic Wheel. The five-year-old daughter of Pegasus Spur-Daylon Marvel triumphed in 1:54.1, half a length better than the rallying Mistress Valentine. Magic Wheel saved show while the pocket-sitting Unefoisdansmavie had to settle for fourth.
Bill Bercury owns and trains the Ontario-sired mare, who now boasts $334,465 in career earnings.
Merriman drove four winners on the 15-race card while Mike Wilder and Brian Zendt each fashioned a triple.
(With files from The Meadows)