By Jay Wolf
Loua Dipa received a confident drive from Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the second heat to win the $265,000 Jugette for 3-year old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at the Delaware County Fair.
When the field of eight was sent on its way in the $240,000 final, Loua Dipa outsprinted Darlin’s Angel (Lauren Tritton) and led past the opening quarter in :27.
The supplemental entry, Vanna By The River (Aaron Merriman), was the first to apply pressure on Loua Dipa while parked on the outside past the half-mile station in :55.3.
The field bunched up as they reached the three-quarters in 1:24.3.
The pocket-sitting Darlin’s Angel was looking for room in the inside, and the other Ron Burke trainees, I’m A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick) and Sandyboots Yankee (Yannick Gingras) came from the outside.
At the wire, it was Loua Dipa by a length and a quarter over Darlin’s Angel, who out-photoed I’m A Lou Lou in 1:53.
The homebred son of Sweet Lou is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Burke hoisted the Jugette trophy for a record sixth time.
Wrenn Jr. now adds a Jugette title with his 2025 Jug trophy.
In the $25,000 first heat, Loua Dipa took the lead just before the quarter pole and held off her stablemate, I’m A Lou Lou, by a half-length in 1:53.3.
Lou Dipa has 15 wins in 23 career starts and pushed her career earnings to $1,288,618.
Jugette Day Undercard
Ohio Breeders Championship 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
Nine freshman colt pacers went postward in the $137,700 Ohio Breeder’s Championship, and after an early skirmish between Atlantic Ivey (Atlee Bender), Don’ttruckwithme (Mike Wilder) and Ocean Party (Chris Page), it was Night Surfer and Dexter Dunn who remained patient and crossed the line first in 1:53.4 over the “good” Delaware County Fair surface.
Night Surfer, who suffered his only career defeat in his last start, the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Final (Sept. 12), rebounded with a five-length score.
Delaware’s leading trainer, Virgil Morgan Jr. conditions the winner for Let It Ride Stable, Morrison Racing Stable, S. Held, and Alberg Racing.
Don’ttruckwithme overcame the outside post eight to finish second. First Grade and Wrenn Jr. used a three-wide move around the final turn and closed from sixth to finish third.
Standardbred 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
Dave Palone, the winningest driver in the history of harness racing, picked up career win No. 21,750 with his 1:56.1 victory with Aestas in the $50,000 Standardbred 2-year-old filly pace.
Love Somebody (Gingras) was second by a head, and Gold Impact (Mike Wilder) was third, beaten by two lengths.
Steve LeBlanc trains the Papi Rob Hanover lass for Glenn Dyke.
She is now 5-for-8 for her career.
Standardbred 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
Hades Hanover and reinsman Brady Brown received the call and kept his eight competitors at bay, winning the $53,100 Standardbred for 2-year-old colt trotters in 2:01.1.
Kathy Schoeffel, Maxx Fortune Stable, and Roger Romesser own the gelded son of Greenshoe, who was a $12,000 yearling purchase and has now earned $54,330 this season.
Steve Schoeffel is the winning conditioner.
Gaining Muscle (David Miller) rallied from mid-pack at the top of the stretch to get second, and Keystone August (Merriman) rounded out the top three.
Standardbred 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
Pa Lincoln and Gingras had to work hard to get the lead, but when they did, they were able to control the fractions, winning the $51,700 freshman pace in 1:56.4.
The bettor’s choice, Atomix Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) was two and a quarter lengths behind the winner, and Slinky Dawg (Wrenn Jr.) was third.
The Sweet Lou colt is owned by Kirk Nichols, Hutchison Harness, Wayne Mast Jr. and Vincent Urciuoli. Delaware-based Brian Brown is the winning conditioner.
Pa Lincoln has recorded three wins in his seven career starts.
Standardbred 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
Driver Jason Bartlett gave Sevenoops Hanover a first-over trip from the half-mile station and cruised to 1:58.4 win over the ‘sloppy’ surface in the second division of the $55,500 (div.) Standardbred trot for 2-year-old trotters.
Shes A Home Run (Wrenn Jr.), the pacesetter, was second by one and a half lengths, and Mrs Rattigan (Andy Miller) was another half-length behind in third.
Petter Engblom trains the Greenshoe filly for the Engblom Stable, Evans Nation, and Hickory Hollow Stables.
The first $27,750 division was a gate-to-wire effort by The Captain’s Wife (Wrenn Jr.) in 2:01.
A pocket-sitting Tactical Beauty (A. Miller) was a one and three-quarters lengths back in second, and Salt Water Taffy (Gingras) completed the trifecta.
The 518 Group and Ryan Smith co-own the Captain Corey filly. She is trained by Vernon Beachy.