Hustle Up facing test in Mine That Bird Derby

Hustle Up boasts a 7-for-9 career record that includes four stakes wins ranging in distance from 4 1/2 furlongs up to one mile and 70 yards. But despite his outstanding form, he has some things to prove Sunday when he faces open company for the first time in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.

The Mine That Bird is a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds that serves as the final local prep for next month’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

A field of nine has signed on for the Mine That Bird, including Wicked Indeed, the probable favorite off his fourth-place finish to War of Will in last month’s Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds, and One Flew South, a debut winner making his first start for Zedan Racing Stables and trainer Doug O’Neill.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hustle Up, by Abstraction
Last 3 Beyers: 61-63-60

◗ Hustle Up has raced exclusively against New Mexico-breds and comes off a 5 1/2-length win in the $85,000 Red Hedeman Mile on Feb. 2 at Sunland.

◗ In all of his races he has either made or forced the pace, and trainer Todd Fincher is outfitting the headstrong runner with a set of screens in the hopes of seeing him relax in the Mine That Bird Derby. (Screens fit like blinkers – a hood but no cups – and the mesh over the eye area can help relax a horse.)

“We worked him in screens the other day and he couldn’t have relaxed any better,” Fincher said. “It’s the first time he’s ever relaxed. If he’ll relax like he did in the morning, he stands a real chance. We have a ray of hope that he will relax.”

Fincher said Hustle Up was content to sit behind a horse in his work and “cruised on by” when asked by his rider.

◗ Shane Laviolette has the mount Sunday from post 5 for owners Dale F. Taylor Racing, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby.

Wicked Indeed, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 84-74-67

◗ His fourth-place finish in the Lecomte received a boost last weekend when winner War of Will came back in his next start to take the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

◗ Wicked Indeed will attempt to lock up a second win in the Sunland series for 3-year-olds this meet for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, trainer Steve Asmussen, and jockey Luis Contreras. The trio won last month’s Riley Allison Derby with Nitrous, who is co-owned by Stonestreet Stables.

◗ Wicked Indeed is a full brother to Grade 2 winners My Miss Lilly and Just Wicked.