Loua Dipa cruises in 56th Jugette

by Jay Wolf / Little Brown Jug

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. 13) at the Delaware (OH) County Fair.

When the field of eight was sent on their way in the $240,000 final, the even-money favorite, 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 (Yanick 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.

As a trainer, 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 (OH) 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 8 to finish second. First Grade and Ronnie 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 21,750 with his 1:56.1 victory with Aestas in the $50,000 Standardbred two-year-old filly pace.

Love Somebody (Yannick Gingras) was second by a head and Gold Impact (Wilder) was third, beaten by two lengths.

Steve LeBlanc trains the Papi Rob Hanover lass for Glenn Dyke.

She now is five-for-eight 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, 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 (Aaron 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 2¼ lengths behind the winner, Slinky Dawg (Wrenn, Jr.) was third.

The Sweet Lou colt is owned by the Kirk Nichols, Hutchison Harness, Wayne Mast, Jr., and Vincent Urciuoli. Delaware based Brian Brown is the winning conditioner.

PA Lincoln has recorded three career wins in his seven career starts.

Standardbred Two-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 $27,750 second division of the Standardbred trot for 2-year-old trotters.

Shes A Home Run (Wrenn, Jr.) the pacesetter was second by 1½ 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 and driver Wrenn, Jr. in 2:01.

A pocket sitting Tactical Beauty (Andy Miller) was a 1¾ 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.

TUESDAY OBC RESULTS

Big Ranger and Tom Largo cruise in OBC Sophomore Colt Trot

Big Ranger (Tim Tetrick) and Tom Largo (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) used identical 1:55.3 efforts to capture the $61,025 divisions of the Ohio Breeders Championship for 3-year-old colt trotters on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware County Fair.

When the field of five was sent on their way in the second division, Grape Crush (David Miller) received the first call and led the field around the first turn.

Tetrick sent the Hambletonian runner-up, Big Ranger, to the lead before the opening panel in :29.3.

Positions remained unchanged past the half in :57.4.

Soulful Saul (Kurt Sugg) was the first to pull to the outside before the three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Big Ranger used a :28.2 final panel to record the 1¾ length win over Grape Crush. Rose Run Banker (Chris Page) rallied from last to get the show spot.

The In Range colt, a winner of 14 of 17 career starts, is trained by Anette Lorentzon for Madison Global.

The first $61,025 division Tom Largo overcame the outside post 6 to grab the lead and cruised to a three-length score in 1:55.3 over the “good” surface.

Rose Run Boom (Luke Hanners) was second and Bitcoin King (Aaron Merriman) rounded out the trifecta.

The Long Tom gelding has 12 career wins and $455,762 in earnings.

He is owned by Jughead Stable, G. Peters, and Robert Kubiak.

Wrenn, Jr. and Beachy sweep OBC Freshman Colt Trot

The driver/trainer combo of Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and Vernon Beachy swept the $71,375 OBC divisions for 2-year-old colt trotters with Mind On My Moni and Debt Free.

Mind On My Moni rebounded from a narrow defeat in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes final (Sept. 12) and cruised to a gate-to-wire effort in 1:59.2.

Wrenn, Jr. had the Ready For Moni gelding off the gate’s wing quickly from the outside post 6 and they passed the opening quarter in :29.4 and the half in 1:01.2.

Aaron Merriman pulled Commanders Moni before the three-quarters in 1:31.2.

Mind On My Moni held off a late charge from the pocket-sitting Iluvmymoni (David Miller) to record the three-quarter-length win. Commanders Moni held on for third.

Mind On My Moni is now seven-for-nine on the season.

Stablemate Debt Free used similar front-running tactics to win the second $71,375 division in 1:58.

Obsessed With Me (Brett Miller) was 1½ lengths back in second and Satan’s Fury (Aaron Merriman) was another length back in third.

The Ready For Moni gelding has now earned $230,438 with his fifth career victory.

Both winning fillies are owned by the 518 Group, Gitup Racing, Ryan Smith, and Todd’s Auto.