Louprint races to North America Cup glory at Woodbine Mohawk Park
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Louprint and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. needed every inch to earn their North America Cup glory.
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The pair faced a stiff challenge from 53-1 long-shot Madden Oaks to win the $1-million classic at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday in 1:47 1/5, smashing the stakes record.
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'I'm dreaming right now,' Wrenn said. 'This is really special.'
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Louprint made his way to the lead just before the half-mile mark. He continued a torrid pace to three-quarters in 1:19 1/5. In the final eighth of a mile, Madden Oaks and driver Braxten Boyd shot up the inside to engage Louprint and briefly put his nose in front with just strides left. But Louprint grinded back the lead in the shadow of the wire.
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'It wasn't ideal to go that fast in the third quarter but that's the card I was dealt,' Wrenn, who was making his first Cup appearance said. 'He's a terrific horse and he showed it tonight.'
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A Breeders' Crown winner and $1-million earner as a two-year-old, Louprint tuned up for the Cup in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes races before scoring a narrow victory in his elimination last Saturday. Ron Burke trains and co-owns the son of Sweet Lou. Burke also won the Cup in 2014 with JK Endofanera.
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Also at Mohawk on Saturday, Twin B Joe Fresh defended her title in the $287,000 Roses Are Red. Driven by Dunn, the reigning U.S. horse of the year took command just past the half-mile pole and pulled away to a three-length win in 1:48 4/5.
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'Just like usual, she felt fantastic' Dunn said. 'It was a good mile. It didn't feel like she was going that fast. She's just special.'
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Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Twin B Joe Fresh is now two-for-two on the year and is a 32-time winner for trainer Chris Ryder.
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In the $227,000 Goodtimes, Emoticon Legacy set a stakes and Canadian record, winning in 1:50 2/5. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy took the three-year-old trotter to the lead just past the quarter and opened up nicely in the stretch. Trained by Luc Blais for Quebec's Determination Stable, Emoticon Legacy is now six-for-nine lifetime.
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Miki and Minnie took $390,000 Fan Hanover in 1:48 3/5. The second stakes win of the night for Dunn and Ryder, Miki and Mini went off at 1-9 but had to gut it out in the stretch to hold off challengers. It was the ninth career win for Miki and Minnie.
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The $210,000 Armbro Flight went to Dial Square. Driver James Macdonald worked out a perfect second-over trip, taking the five-year-old mare to the lead at the top of the stretch where she held off a late-charging Call Me Goo to win in 1:41 4/5.
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Trained by Ake Svanstedt, Dial Square is now perfect in three starts since relocating to North America from her native Sweden earlier this year.
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