Horse trained by Wash Co. native Burke wins North American Cup
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Louprint, trained by Washington County native Ron Burke and driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., remained undefeated in 2025 Saturday night, winning the C$1 million, 42nd North American Cup for 3-year-old pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellsville, Ontario.
He finished in a record 1:47.1.
Louprint, a homebred, is now five-for-five this season and has won 12 of 15 starts in his career, never finishing out of the money. He is the son of Sweet Lou.
Louprint has now won more than $1.6 million in his career.
He fought off a huge effort from Madden Oaks, a 53-1 shot who nosed ahead deep in the stretch, to win the Grade 1 stakes record. Fast Choice was 3rd. Captain Optimistic was fourth.
The fractions were 26.0, 53.1 and 1:19.1. Madden Ochs controlled the first quarter. Louprint then took over.
“I said, I thought this is the best 3-year-old I’ve had and I’m not sure he’s not the best 3-year-old I’ve ever had,” Burke said. “At some point when you think you have the best horse, you’re going to the front.
“He’s the only horse that when you get to the three quarters mark at 1:19.1 and you think that’s OK. You know like that’s all right. It’s not a big deal.”
Louprint is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Fredericktown, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura, PA-Law.
Burke’s last North American Cup winner was in 2014 when JK Endofanera won the race.
“What a dream come true to get the job done,” Wrenn said after the race. “He’s a special horse. I didn’t give him a great trip, but you know, he’s a terrific horse – he raced really well.
“He’s a terrific horse, and he showed it tonight. It wasn’t ideal to go that fast to the third quarter. But you know, that’s the card I was dealt.”
Louprint won the Dan Patch Award last season as the top 2-year-old colt pacer. He won seven of his 10 starts, notching victories in the Breeders Crown and Kentucky Sires Stakes final.
“He’s a great horse,” Burke said. “He’s an improvement, I think, on his sire, which I didn’t think I would ever say.
“He’s just a great horse,” Burke said.
Louprint paid $5.80 for the win.
Burke said Louprint will race again in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations July 5 at the Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ.
The $700,000 final will be held July 12.
Louprint is expected to be a top contender for The Adios, for which eliminations will be July 19. The Adios will be held July 26.