On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Louprint illustrated he is one to watch as did Luna Lovegood with their triumphs in the $108,108 fourth legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series in their respective divisions for two-year-old male pacers and freshman trotting fillies at The Red Mile.

Louprint (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was the first to place his hooves upon the red clay and came along the outside to score over American Son (Dexter Dunn) by a neck in a new lifetime best of 1:49. Sippinonsearoc (Yannick Gingras), the fastest two-year-old pacer in harness racing history, was third.

The son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer commenced his mile from the rail. He and his reinsman settled in fourth position in the field of six leaving the gate. Stablemate Sippinonsearoc went right to the top and posted fractions of :28, :55 and 1:22. Shipmaster (Todd McCarthy) was was right behind the world champion with American Son in third and Louprint remaining in fourth.

When the field rounded the final bend, Sippinonsearoc’s early efforts took some starch out of him, as American Son and Louprint saved their best for last.

In a stirring final drive to the line, Louprint battled with American Son and a game Sippinonsearoc. It was Louprint’s :26.1 final panel that enabled him to enter the winner’s enclosure.

Trained by Ron Burke, Louprint improved his record to 5-1-0 and boosted his bank account to $217,892 in six starts. The colt’s only defeat is behind Sippinonsearoc by a neck in the first leg of this series.

Louprint now holds the advantage as he has defeated Sippinonsearock in their last two engagements.

Bred by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phillip Collura, the colt competes as a homebred for his connections.

Louprint provided his supporters with $3.14 for his victory, which is his third straight.

Luna Lovegood (Dunn) collected her second consecutive win with a smart steer by her pilot. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Southwind Venus was able to hold off the late charge by R Dutchess (Jody Jamieson) in the lane to stop the clock in 1:53. Torrisi (Gingras) snatched the show spot.

Luna Lovegood began trotting from post position five in the field of nine. Gingras placed his charge immediately on the front as the eventual winner was in third. Torrisi clicked off splits of :29.4, :57.2 and 1:26 with first leg winner Yo Tillie in second.

Dunn and his pupil made their move entering the stretch. Luna Lovegood simply had more trot than R Dutchess, who closed from fifth, and the previous two leaders. The filly came home in :26.3.

Conditioned by Marcus Melander, Luna Lovegood’s resume now stands at 3-0-0 in four starts and she has earned $163,664 in purse money.

The filly was bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander. She was a $100,000 purchase at the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale under the name Witness Blue Chip by Holly Lane Stud East.

Luna Lovegood paid $6.42 to win as the public’s second selection.

Gingras, Takter take two Commonwealth Series events with regally bred youngsters

Fusion and Gingras won by a neck in 1:50.4 in the $40,541 fourth leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for two-year-old male pacers as the heavy favourite. Higher Ground (Andy Miller) was second and Bourbon County (T. McCarthy) was third.

The son of racing royalty in Horse of the Year Always B Miki and multiple Dan Patch Award winner Pure Country was the heavy favourite and improved his career slate to 3-1-0 in four starts. The colt has amassed $71,647.

The only blemish on his record is a loss to American Son in the second leg of this series. American Son gave Louprint all he could handle with a world champion behind him in third.

Trained by Nancy Takter, Fusion, races for his breeding operation’s (Diamond Creek Farm) racing contingent.

The colt is the third foal out of a world champion and dual Breeders Crown winning dam, who earned $2.63 million in her prolific career. Pure Country was the first female pacer to win divisional honors at two, three and four.

Fusion paid $2.14 for the victory.

Deja Blu (Gingras) also has regal blood rolling through her veins. The daughter of Horse of the Year Muscle Hill and 2018 Hambletonian winner, Atlanta, established a new lifetime mark of 1:53 and collected her third consecutive victory in the fourth leg of the Commonwealth Series for freshman trotting fillies. Winnpanzee (T. McCarthy) was second and Esme (Tim Tetrick) was third.

Also trained by Takter, Deja Blu was bred by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor. The filly is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and Thomas Pontone.

Deju Blu is now 3-0-0 and possesses a bankroll of $69,977 in five starts.

The filly paid $2.60 to win.

Unlike her colleagues, Kadena, a daughter of Muscle Hill and Dan Patch Award winner Mission Brief did not have her picture taken. The filly and driver Dexter Dunn were second to Swoop (T. Tetrick) in the second division of the fourth leg of the Commonwealth Series for two-year-old trotting fillies. Voguish (Gingras) was third.

By Walner and out of Batoutahill, Swoop broke her maiden in her fifth lifetime start, so the final time of 1:54.4 is her new mark.

Swoop is the fourth foal out of her dam who broke the $100,000 as a race mare. The filly is a half-sibling to Bargain (Chapter Seven, $296,466) and was an $80,000 selection at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

She was bred Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew and is owned by Harbor Racing Stable, Walling Racing Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing and Van Camp Trotting Corp.

Swoop paid $32.06 for her first win after going off at 15-1.

Five $20,270 Kentucky Golden Rod divisions highlighted the undercard with wins taken by Delray Beach (Yannick Gingras, 1:52.1), Belmont (Dexter Dunn, 1:55), Party Line (Dunn, 1:54.4), Banderas (Andy Miller, 1:51.4) and Anativenewyorker (Dunn, 1:54.2).

Racing continues on the same Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule at The Red Mile on Sept. 8, 9 and 10. First post is 5:05 p.m. on Sunday and at 1 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

The lucrative Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship finals will be conducted on Sunday, Sept. 15.

(The Red Mile)