East Rutherford, NJ — Preppy Art continues to be one of the more amazing stories in harness racing for a horse of modest class, as the veteran 9-year-old visited The Meadowlands winner’s circle once again Friday night (April 2) this time in a claiming handicap pace with a top price tag of $12,500.

Preppy Art wins for the third time in his last four starts Friday night at The Meadowlands. Lisa photo.

The recipient of an ideal pocket trip, Preppy Art stormed past leader Northern Rock to record a convincing 2-1/2 length score, his 24th lifetime from 151 starts, after stopping the clock in 1:54.3 as the 9-5 second choice in the wagering.

The gelded son of Art Colony-Electric Smile wrote a remarkable story back in December of 2019. During 2018, he won exactly zero races from 30 starts before starting the following season winless in 21 outings.

With his losing streak at 59, he then caught fire, winning six in a row at the $7,500 claiming level to earn himself a legion of fans. He finished 2019 with eight wins in his last nine tries.

He had an off year in 2020, finishing with a 15-race losing streak and just two victories from 20 starts on the season.
But in 2021, he appears to be all the way back.

After beginning the year winless in eight tries, Preppy Art, who has been seen for the most part in the GSY Series, has been victorious in three of his last four, with his only loss coming to the razor sharp So So De Vie one week ago in the GSY Series final.

On Friday, he scored with Andy McCarthy in the bike for trainer Edwin Quevedo, and in his next start, he’ll attempt to keep rolling for new connections, as trainer Kyle Spagnola took the sharp sort for $12,500.

ONES TO WATCH: The Nancy Takter-trained Really Fast, a $700,000 purchase at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale, did not disappoint as the 1-9 favorite in a non-winners of two on the trot, winning his first career start from off the pace in 1:55 for driver Yannick Gingras.

The 3-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Stubborn Belle moved to the outside from the four-hole at the half and steadily made up ground on the leaders around the far turn, and went on to an easy 2-1/2 length win when leader Light Blue Movers went off stride during the stretch drive. Really Fast is owned by Brixton Medical, Hatfield Stables and Marvin Katz.
Using a dazzling burst of speed down the backstretch to grab the lead, Whole Lotta Lou was beyond impressive staying perfect in two starts this year, taking a non-winners of two on the pace by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1 as the 3-5 public choice.

“I didn’t really have it in the game plan to do that,” said winning driver McCarthy of the backside brush. “But Simon’s [Allard, driving Itzalldowntoluck N] horse looked like he was about to drop anchor, so I decided to make the move. He’s a little green but he finished up well. He’s got a little bit more to learn. I had to keep telling him what to do. He had a lot more pace than he was showing. I think this is a pretty nice colt.”
A 3-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Ideal Love, Whole Lotta Lou, who is trained by Stacy Chiodo, won for the second time from just four lifetime outings for owners Timothy Tobias Stable.

A LITTLE MORE: Yannick Gingras led the driver colony with three winners on the card. … All-source wagering totaled $3,044,446, the 17th time this year the $3-million barrier has been busted. During all of 2020, the $3-million plateau was reached a total of 11 times. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.