Louprint dug down deep to best a game Madden Oaks in an enthralling 42nd edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday, June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The premier North American event for three-year-old pacers delivered yet another captivating chapter in its storied history, played out in front of an appreciative crowd on a picture-perfect evening at the Milton oval.
Madden Oaks, at 53-1, rocketed off from post 10 for Braxten Boyd to secure the lead over fellow outsider Swingtown (Yannick Gingras) while Joel And The Jets (Louis-Philippe Roy) settled into third, followed by Louprint, with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. at the controls.
After carving out an opening quarter in :26, Madden Oaks yielded the lead to slight 9-5 choice Louprint, who stormed to the front just ahead of a half in :53.1, with Madden Oaks in second, Dandy Ideal (Jason Bartlett) in third and Swingtown fourth.
Louprint, fresh off his North America Cup elimination score last Saturday, reached three quarters in a blistering record 1:19.1, as a host of rivals picked up the pace and their pursuit of the leader.
Midway down the lane, Madden Oaks found room along the pylons and started to cut into Louprint’s advantage with each stride.
The final 50 yards to the wire was sporting drama at its finest.
After Madden Oaks appeared to put a nose in front, Louprint fought back to eke out a head score in a stakes and track record of 1:47.1. Fast Choice (Scott Zeron) was third and Captain Optimistic (Dexter Dunn) finished fourth.
“What a dream come true to get the job done,” said Wrenn. “He's a special horse. I didn't give him a great trip, but you know, he's a terrific horse – he raced really well.
“He's a terrific horse, and he showed it tonight. It wasn't ideal to go that fast to the third quarter. But you know, that's card I was dealt.”
The son of Sweet Lou once again came up aces.
It was the fifth win in as many starts in 2025 for the brown colt, who arrived at the North America Cup final off a game head triumph in his Cup elimination race, a 1:49.1 mile carved out last Saturday at Mohawk.
“I knew he was good, and he was ready to go,” said trainer Ron Burke, who won the 2014 North America Cup with JK Endofanera. “And you know, Ronnie was worried that he had raced him too hard. But you know, when you think you have the best colt, you put him on the front at some point and let them come get him. I'm awful proud of him. He raced hard. But you know, I have all the faith in the world in this colt.
“I never lost faith. I thought he was a winner from the top of the lane down, like he just digs. He knows how to win. If you look at his career, if he's in the front, he's very hard to get around."
Louprint won the Dan Patch Award last season as the top two-year-old colt pacer. He won seven of his 10 starts, notching victories in the Breeders Crown and Kentucky Sires Stakes final.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Phil Collura and Larry Karr, the homebred is 12-2-1 from 15 career starts, along with over $1.6 million in purse earnings.
“He's a great horse,” lauded Burke. “He's actually an improvement, I think, on his sire, which I didn't think I would ever say.”
Louprint paid $5.80 for the win. It was also fitting that Louprint's saddle pad was green, the colour of the armband worn by Wrenn in honour of Wrenn's close friend Hunter Myers, who tragically passed away in a racing accident earlier this year.
"My good buddy passed away a couple of months ago; it really affected the whole harness racing industry," Wrenn told John Rallis walking back to the winner's circle. "He was here with me tonight and we got the job done."
A number of stakes events were contested before the main event as part of the stacked 2025 Pepsi North America Cup undercard. Links to those recaps are posted below.
- Miki And Minnie Mighty In Fan Hanover
- Emoticon Legacy Sets Canadian Record In Goodtimes
- Brue Hanover Best In Mohawk Gold Cup
- Dial Square S Rings Up Armbro Flight Victory
- Twin B Joe Fresh Flaunts It In Roses Are Red Repeat
In addition to the stakes events, Mohawk carded a pair of Open dashes for pacers. Soaring Now ($3.70) and driver Louis-Philippe Roy wore down Seven Colors (Jason Bartlett) in the stretch and then held off the late surge of Century Komodo (Tim Tetrick) to prevail in the $40,000 Open Pace.
The win in 1:48.4 was the 25th lifetime score for the six-year-old son of JK Endofanera - Sunflower, trained by Victor Puddy for owners Howmac Farms Ltd. of Brookfield, P.E.I., Gordon McDonald of Ottawa, Ont., Christopher Boland of St Johns, Nfld. and Limco Inc. of Chateauguay, Que. His earnings now stand at $680,336.
In a $50,000 Open Pace for three-year-olds, Papis Pistol ($7.30) and driver Doug McNair cleared to the lead after a :27.1 opening quarter was posted by TH Kay C Crunch (Jody Jamieson) and the colt was never headed from there. After serious middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:21.3, the Sam DePinto trainee fired home in :26.2 for the lifetime best 1:48 score over TH Kay C Crunch and favoured Ayeaye Captain Deo (Bob McClure)
A son of Papi Rob Hanover - Bang Bang, Papis Pistol picked up his first win of the season and fifth lifetime for New Jersey-based owners Shannon DePinto of Spring Lake, Chris Arvanitis of Manalapan and Anthony Perretti of Asbury Park, N.J. along with Brad Shackman of Calgary, Alta. He's now earned $289,404 for his connections.
The full card is available below, plus special bonus coverage from Primetime Racing.
WOODBINE MOHAWK PARK SIMULCAST FEED
PRIMETIME RACING SPECIAL
For full results from Saturday's stakes-packed card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine)