The only filly faster to the finish than classy 4yo Prerequisite (Upstart) in Saturday's Athenia S. was another out of the same barn.

The Airdrie Stud-bred filly out of Etsu (Smart Strike) ran well and finished a close 2nd to Child of the Moon in Aqueduct's $150,000 Listed contest.

In the 2nd start of a season which began only in September, Prerequisite made a strong 1/4 pole move to the lead atop the short field. She was denied victory only by the strong late charge from her stablemate inside the final 1/16th.

At 3yo, Prerequisite won the Gr2 Wonder Again S. and placed 2nd in the Gr1 Belmont Oaks Invitational S. for Brown and First Row Partners. The $350,000 2yo purchase is 1/2 sister to Gr3 winner Stay Hot (Summer Front), also an Airdrie graduate.

Bred by the late Michael Baum's Man o'War Farm, Etsu is out of Forever Beautiful (Giant's Causeway), 1/2 sister to champion Farda Amiga (Broad Brush) and descendant of matriarch Northern Sunset (Northfields).

Etsu is dam to a 2yo colt by Complexity and Prerequisite's yearling full-brother.