Delaware, OH – Loua Dipa and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. went to the front from post 1 and never looked back, winning Wednesday’s (Sept. 23) $240,000 Grade 1 Jugette final, for 3-year-old female pacers, by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53 over a track labeled good at the Delaware (Ohio) County Fair. Darlin’s Angel finished second and I’m A Lou Lou was third.
Loua Dipa’s victory gave trainer Ron Burke his second consecutive win in the Jugette and extended his record for victories in the event to six. It was Wrenn’s first triumph in the race, and it came one year after he got his first Little Brown Jug trophy.
After winning the Jugette’s first heat by a half length in 1:53.3 three races earlier, Loua Dipa notched her sixth victory in 10 starts this season by capturing the final. The homebred daughter of Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. She has won 15 of 23 career starts and earned $1.28 million.
“These races are very important to me, and this horse’s mom was one of my favorite horses and (Loua Dipa) is one of my favorite horses, so it really means a lot,” Burke said.
Loua Dipa, a Dan Patch Award divisional champion as a 2-year-old, had throat surgery following a seventh-place finish against male rivals in the Delvin Miller Adios on July 25 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. She returned to action on Sept. 6, finishing third in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old filly pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia. She got back to her winning ways in the 56th edition of the Jugette.
“For her to come back from the surgery barely two months ago and be back in the winner’s circle at a Grade 1 event, we’re very happy,” Burke said.
“It wasn’t all easy (this year). She came back and I could hear her making a little noise, but she was still winning. Finally, we realized it was going the wrong way, and we were going to have to do something different, so we had surgery on her. I still say she’s the best filly I’ve ever trained, and that says a lot. I think that before the end of the year she’ll prove it.”
In the Jugette final, Wrenn put Loua Dipa in front and controlled the tempo with fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:24.3.
“I was more confident the second heat than the first heat,” Wrenn said. “She raced great. She’s a tremendous filly and I’m just really proud of her. She raced awesome.”
The final played out in similar manner to the first heat, when Wrenn took the lead with Loua Dipa approaching the :27.3 opening quarter and then kept Darlin’s Angel locked in the pocket while fending off a late outside rally from I’m A Lou Lou.
“I had her shut down there on the last turn, trying to save her for the second heat, and to try to keep (Darlin’s Angel) pinned in there because she’s a nice filly,” Wrenn said about Loua Dipa’s diminishing advantage in the first heat. “It’s Delaware, no passing lane, so I was trying to use when I got to the front to my advantage. She was good.”
Last year, Wrenn won the Little Brown Jug with Burke-trained Louprint.
“It’s been awesome,” Wrenn said about his Delaware victories. “These are a couple of moments that I’ll never forget. My family is here with me and I’m just so happy for the Burke Brigade, and for the opportunity to drive these nice horses. It always feels good to get the job done.”
Burke has swept the Jugette and Little Brown Jug in the same year twice previously, including last year with Louprint and filly Rodeo Drive Deo. He will send out four horses in Thursday’s (Sept. 24) $650,000 Grade 1 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fair: Al Papi, Frantic Hanover, Melillo and Watch Em Win.
Loua Dipa wins first Jugette heat
Loua Dipa and Wrenn moved to the lead approaching the :27.3 opening quarter and remained in front from there to win the $25,000 first heat of the Jugette.
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.”