Hustle Up easily passes two-turn test in Steve Prather Stakes

Hustle Up conquered two turns in his first attempt Monday, when he wired the field in the $145,000 Steve Prather at Zia Park. He won by three lengths over Sunscreen, while it was another three-quarters of a length back to Catch Ten in third.

The Steve Prather was for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. It was the final stakes of the Zia Park meet that ends Dec. 19.

Hustle Up ($11.60) set fractions of 22.90 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.43 for the half-mile and 1:11.69 for six furlongs before finding more in the stretch and covering one mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:44.54.

Shane Laviolette was aboard for trainer Todd Fincher.

Hustle Up is a son of Abstraction who races for the partnership of Dale F. Taylor, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby. He has now won 6 of 8 starts, with three of those victories coming in stakes. Hustle Up has earned $252,143.

Hustle Up started his career with five straight wins, including the Copper Top Futurity in April at Sunland Park and the Mountain Top Futurity in June at Ruidoso Downs.