Lexington, KY – Loua Dipa, a full-sister to world champion Looksgoodinloulou, demolished the world record for 2-year-old pacing fillies when muscling under wraps to a 1:48 victory in the second of three divisions for the $214,000 International Stallion Stakes for freshman pacing fillies – a division named “The Stockade Seelster” sponsored by Cornerstone Stock Farm – on Friday (Oct. 3) at The Red Mile.
Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. left methodically with Loua Dipa for a stalking spot and rushed toward the lead as the shuffle settled after a :27.1 first quarter. Loua Dipa cleared command before a :54.1 half and slowly opened her lead through the last turn, passing three-quarters in 1:22.1. She lengthened in stride and widened her advantage while drifting through the stretch in progress to an 8-1/2-length victory. Hope Hill (driven by Dexter Dunn) pushed uncovered up the rim to finish best of the rest in second with Fabulous Hanover (Scott Zeron) taking third and Carnation (Tim Tetrick) settling for fourth after chasing the leader from a pocket trip.
“I wanted to end up on the front by the half and it worked out,” Wrenn said. “Obviously I was the horse to follow, so I think Timmy was happy to follow me. I just wanted to win the race – time wasn’t that important – but she felt really strong, so I let her pace through the wire, and she did it pretty easy. In the last two weeks she’s really taken a turn for the best and I’m really looking forward to the Breeders Crown.”
The 1:48 mile by Loua Dipa lowers the previous world record of 1:48.3 established in 2018 by former Burke pupil Warrawee Ubeaut and matched last season by another stablemate in Looksgoodinloulou, a homebred filly for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC by Sweet Lou out of the Pet Rock mare Looksgoodinaromper. Loua Dipa’s win, the seventh from 10 starts in her career, also lowered the track record at The Red Mile for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Adding to her bankroll now worth $381,045, Loua Dipa paid $2.10 to win.
Burke also collected a win in the first division for freshman pacing fillies – a division of the Tall Dark Stranger sponsored by the Tall Dark Stranger Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms – when 8-5 favorite I’m A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick) pulled away for a 1:49.3 win.
I’m A Lou Lou landed in fourth to a :27.2 first quarter cut by Gracious (Todd McCarthy) and waited until after Rocksy (Andy McCarthy) circled from third toward the lead to angle outside for a first-over push. Tetrick advanced on the rim through a :55.1 half and loomed to match strides with Rocksy at three-quarters in 1:23.1. She then pushed by Rocksy with ease spinning for home and spurted away to a 3-1/2-length win. Gracious pounced from a pocket ride for second with Bettor Be A Star (Patrick Ryder) taking third from a ground-saving trip and Kissedbyastranger (Yannick Gingras) rallying from second-over for fourth.
“We really loved her last year; she trained down great,” said Larry Karr, who co-owns I’m A Lou Lou with Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services and Phil Collura. “She was racing great the whole year so far until the She’s A Great Lady – she actually got some minor stomach issues. Ronnie (Burke) took her down here, did some minor vet work to her and she trained super this week. Now we’ll just get her ready for Breeders Crown.”
Andrew Harris pupil Topville Lucky (Dexter Dunn) wrapped the stakes action for freshman pacing fillies when notching her fifth win in a row while taking her division of the Tall Dark Stranger with a 1:49.1 effort.
Dunn placed the Sweet Lou-Warrawee Winx filly on top out of post eight to a :27.1 first quarter and kept her peers in tow to a :55.1 half. On Heir (Andy McCarthy) made the first move to challenge the leader entering the far turn and progressed up to Topville Lucky’s wheel moving to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Topville Lucky accelerated off the bottom corner and put away On Heir while striding home to a 2-3/4-length win. On Heir held second from Seaside Shuffle (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rallying from second-over for third and Beautiful Memory (Scott Zeron) gave chase off a pocket trip for fourth.
“She’s just been a great filly,” Harris said. “I’ve got to thank Bill (Pollock) and Bruce (Areman) for stepping up to the plate and taking a shot on her because she’s a real delight to have.” Harris also confirmed that this race was her final start of the season.
Topville Lucky won her sixth race from seven starts and has now earned $372,000. She paid $3.04 to win.