The third highest-priced trotting yearling of 2019 didn't make an on-track appearance as a freshman but made his sophomore debut in style on Friday (April 2) at The Meadowlands.

The Nancy Takter-trained Really Fast, a $700,000 purchase at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale, did not disappoint as the 1-9 favourite 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 three-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 also beyond impressive staying perfect in two starts this year, taking a non-winners of two on the pace by 4-½ 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.

(Meadowlands)