Delaware, OH – Loua Dipa and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. moved to the lead approaching the :27.3 opening quarter and remained in front from there to win Wednesday’s (Sept. 23) $25,000 first heat of the Grade 1 Jugette, for 3-year-old female pacers, by a half-length in 1:53.3 at the Delaware County Fair.
I’m A Lou Lou finished a fast-closing second after a three-wide move from midpack on the last turn while Darlin’s Angel, who took the early lead from post 1, finished third. The remaining order of finish, which set the post positions for the $240,000 Jugette final later today, was Sandyboots Yankee, Perfect Thought, Vanna By The River, Ideal Beauty Queen, and Kilauea Hanover.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to move or not, but I thought it was the move to make at the time,” Wrenn said. “It turned out to be the right move.”
Loua Dipa, over a track labeled “good,” set fractions of :55.4 to the half and 1:25 to three-quarters en route to her fifth win in nine starts this season. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, the daughter of Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper paid $3.60 to win.
“I was happy with her,” Wrenn said. “Now we have post 1 and have some options to work with. One more time.”
Here is the field for the Jugette final:
Post – Horse (Driver/Trainer)
1. Loua Dipa (Ronnie Wrenn Jr./Ron Burke)
2. I’m A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick/Ron Burke)
3. Darlin’s Angel (Lauren Tritton/Juan Cano)
4. Sandyboots Yankee (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
5. Perfect Thought (Scott Zeron/Jason McGinnis)
6. Vanna By The River (Aaron Merriman/Cory Stratton)
7. Ideal Beauty Queen (Dexter Dunn/Jake Huff)
8. Kilauea Hanover (Mike Wilder/Norm Parker)