Oct 26, 2025 4 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

Prior to the start of the Breeders Crown eliminations, it was expected that Ron Burke would be the winning trainer of the champion 3-year-old colt pacer Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Ontario.

And he was.

Except the champion isn’t Louprint – it’s stablemate Sippinonsearoc, who poured it on in the stretch to capture the $600,000 final in a stakes-record 1:47.3.

Burke’s other champion was Loua Dipa, who won the 2-year-old filly pacing title in a stakes record time of 1:49.1 – which equals the track and Canadian record.

Burke now has 24 career Breeders Crown winners — the second most among trainers in history.

“(Sippinonsearoc) deserved this,” Burke said. He was 25 (seconds) and a piece on both (ends). You know he’d be great.

“It was a weird thing. You’re so happy to win the race, but you’re so disappointed (about Louprint). It made it a lot better with our horse winning.”

His regard for Loua Dipa continues to grow.

“She’s put herself in the conversation as the best 2-year-old filly pacer ever,” Burke said. “She can make the case.

“A couple weeks ago, we knew she was nice. She started separating herself from just being a nice horse to a great horse.”

Sippinonsearoc, the son of Downbytheseaside-Queen Ann M is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, RAS Racing and Knox Services. He was bred by Trent Stohler Stable and Alesha Binkley.

Sippinonsearoc and driver Yannick Gingras posted a neck victory over Dandy Ideal. Captain Optimistic was third and Prince Hal Hanover finished fourth.

Gingras and Sippinonsearoc got to the lead after a five-horse scramble off the gate and brought the field to the opening quarter in :25.3. Prince Hal Hanover and driver Todd McCarthy moved to the front from there, but were on top only briefly as Dandy Ideal, with Jason Bartlett, took over at the :54.1 half. Louprint and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., parked out for much of the way, made a first-over challenge going to three-quarters but got no closer than second as Dandy Ideal reached that station in 1:20.4.

Dandy Ideal looked to move away from the field down the stretch, opening by 2-1/2 lengths, but Sippinonsearoc’s :26 last quarter was enough to get the job done.

“I was kind of happy where I got away, I just wasn’t quite happy with the :25.3 first quarter,” Gingras said. “Other than that, I thought I was following two of the three best horses in the race between Dandy Ideal and Prince Hal Hanover, so I kind of liked my spot.

“(Sippinonsearoc) has been so good, really; he deserved a big win. He’s been knocking at the door. I’m so happy for him.”

Sippinonsearoc has won 13 of 26 career races and earned $1.3 million.

Loua Dipa is owned by and was bred by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, LLC., of Pennsylvania. By adding another $479,500, she pushed her career earnings to $1,019,728. It was her fifth triumph in a row and her fifth clocking in 1:49.3 or better. Loua Dipa won her Breeders Crown elimination in 1:49.3 and picked up her ninth career victory in 12 starts with this latest win.

Burke not only trained the winner in the final but also second place finisher She’s A Bulldog (Bob McClure), and third-place finisher Seaside Shuffle (Yannick Gingras).

A daughter of Sweet Lou, Loua Dipa is a homebred for her owners. She won nine of 12 races with a second and a third.

“She was just in the middle of the pack until the first qualifier,” Burke added. “She showed a hint of it and then every start after that she just kept getting better and better. Then it was when she came up here that we were like ‘wow, she’s special.’ Since then, she’s just been on a tear.”

As for Louprint, who lost for the first time in last week’s Breeders Crown eliminations and was off the board Saturday, Burke senses something just isn’t right.

“I really wasn’t that worried about last week and then he had an incident this week where a horse got loose in the barn and (Louprint) got over top of his gate,” Burke said. “We didn’t think it bothered him but now… I’m wondering if there isn’t something bothering him.

“He wouldn’t relax (Saturday) night in the race and he almost ran in the first turn. He’s going to his vet (Monday). He’s never been like that. Ronnie (Wrenn) said he was hot in the parade and he was hot warming up. Being honest, something’s bothering him. There’s a spot under his chest that he seems to be tender on that he didn’t like last night when I was going over him.”

Harnesslink and DRF Harness contributed to this story.