When Louprint hit the wire first, in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, it was an emotional win for both trainer Ron Burke and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - each of whom have suffered recent losses in their lives. Horses bring out the best in us; they can also bring out our emotions - and there’s nothing wrong with that. By John Rallis.
In sports, legacies are often defined by what’s done in the biggest, most pressure-packed moments, and harness racing is no different. So when Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Ron Burke teamed up with Louprint, to capture the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup in record-setting fashion, the electrifying performance helped to cement the legacies of both, as well as the family members that came before them.
While Burke and Wrenn may differ in personality, they share a bond of deeper purpose; a connection to those they’ve lost, and a drive to honour them in the sport they love. Louprint is more than just a talented colt, he’s a symbol of that shared journey, and of how greatness often finds its roots in legacy, love, and loss.
For Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke, a man whose resume already stands near the top of the sport’s elite, this win goes beyond another notch in the record books - Louprint’s victory is deeply personal. By their champion stallion, Sweet Lou, the colt is part of the last crop that Burke’s late father, Mickey, was closely involved in developing, before his passing in May, 2024.
Mickey Sr., the architect of the famed Burke Brigade, watched Louprint grow from foal to future star, but sadly passed away just four weeks before the colt’s first charted line. On June 14, 2025, the elder Burke may not have been at the finish line physically, but his presence was unmistakable. For son Ron, Louprint embodies every lesson and every value his father passed down, and the winner’s circle celebration was more than just a professional milestone, it was a tribute to a family legacy.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr’s impressive career, competing predominantly across Ohio and Pennsylvania, hadn’t yet vaulted him into conversations about the sport’s leading drivers, but with his North America Cup triumph, Wrenn’s name is now forever tied to Louprint’s, and to one of the sport’s most exhilarating moments.
Wrenn, like Burke, races with more than just ambition, he races with memory and meaning. His late father, Ronnie Wrenn Sr., passed away in 2014, but remains Jr’s guiding influence whenever he picks up a set of lines, and everything the elder Wrenn taught his son about patience, timing, and poise came to the fore on Cup night.
Wrenn’s driving suit tells even another story… Though he races in black and maroon, his suit bears two distinct green patches: an armband on his left sleeve, and the initials ‘HM’ on his chest. These are tributes to Hunter Myers, a close friend and talented young driver whose life was tragically cut short in March, 2025. Myers, a young father who also had dreams of competing in the sport’s biggest events, now lives on through Wrenn’s victories, and Hunter’s spirit was present in every stride Louprint took in his record-setting performance.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” said Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in his post-race interview, moments after capturing a thrilling victory in this year’s edition of the North America Cup.
Those words couldn’t be more fitting - especially considering that the Michigan native could really only dream that such a moment might be possible when he first picked up a set of lines, at the age of 21. But on June 14, 2025, the now 38-year-old horseman stood proudly at the pinnacle of North American harness racing.
“I wasn’t like most guys [in the business],” shares Ronnie Wrenn Jr., reflecting on his unconventional start in harness racing. “I was a late bloomer… I first picked up a set of lines at 21-years-old, which isn’t ideal for most guys in the industry who are driving horses for a living (laughing).
“I was around the industry at a young age, thanks in part to my parents being involved, but I wouldn’t say I had a very strong passion for it then,” admits Ronnie. “A lot of people who are in the industry, they basically grew up in the barn every day, eager to learn about the business and so forth. For me, that wasn’t necessarily the case.”
Wrenn’s focus had shifted away from racing at a certain age, largely because his parents had stepped away from the Standardbred industry as well. Instead, he poured his energy into academics and competitive sports, with little indication at the time that racing would eventually become his calling.
“I played a lot of baseball competitively, and I ended up at a Division Two school in Michigan,” shared Ronnie. “I was there to study Criminal Justice as well, but that didn’t last long (laughing).”
Just two semesters into his first year of college, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. also found himself in the barn working for his uncle, longtime horseman Peter Wrenn. But unlike his earlier encounter with the sport, this time, he was there to stay.
“I started to work for my uncle while I was in school, and I just found this sudden appreciation for horses,” he admitted. “I didn’t feel that same level of admiration when I was younger, but I definitely felt it then. Making that transition [to working with horses] just felt like the right thing to do.
“I was a good student and I enjoyed what I was studying, but it felt like, at that moment, pursuing a career driving horses was what I needed to do.”
It wasn’t a popular decision when Ronnie first told his parents he was leaving school to pursue harness racing, but one advantage he had was access to a wealth of experience and support, through a couple of horsemen - his father, Ronnie Wrenn Sr., and his uncle, Peter Wrenn.
“My parents pushed hard for school and attending college. Having been in the industry at one time, they knew how hard racing horses was, and they just wanted to make sure I had a solid, stable career path.
“Nobody wants to see their kids struggle, and my parents didn’t want that for me,” Ronnie says. “But I’ve been pretty lucky and pretty fortunate. I’d say it’s worked out more times than it hasn’t so far,” he added with a laugh.
Despite being a late bloomer, Ronnie came from a strong pedigree in harness racing. His father, Ronnie Wrenn Sr., had been a highly respected name in the bike at one time.
“Back in the ’70s and ’80s, my dad was considered one of the top drivers at Detroit Race Course,” Wrenn shares proudly. “A lot of guys spoke really highly of him. He raced against the likes of Bill Gale. Even now, I’ll have people stop me just to tell me how talented he was.
“My dad taught me a great deal about everything it took to be a driver, and how to race horses. Most importantly, he taught me how to be mentally tough, which has played a huge role in my career.”
That mental toughness was on full display early in Wrenn’s driving career, as he navigated the struggles that come with breaking into a highly competitive sport. Like most newcomers, the wins didn’t come easy at first, but the more he stuck with it, the more his confidence grew.
Unfortunately, while Ronnie was finding his stride, the same couldn’t be said for the harness racing industry in his home state of Michigan, which was experiencing a steady decline. As a result, it was time to pivot.
“The state of [the industry in] Michigan wasn’t promising, so I had to start looking at other places to race. It’s tough to just pick yourself up and go, and surround yourself in a new environment, but it was something that was required.”
In 2012, the Michigan native found himself in Ohio, where he began competing at Northfield Park. It was a step up in class, coming to a more competitive circuit, but Ronnie, who thrived on competition, was ready for the challenge.
Little did he know at the time that his decision to come to Ohio would become the best thing to happen to his career.
“Things started to really pick up for me quickly when I made my way over there,” he recalled. “I won the driving title in both 2013 and 2014, and I’d say people began to know who I was.”
One of those people was Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke, who made Ronnie Wrenn Jr. a part of his rotation in 2016, and has since then made him his go-to guy for his stables at Northfield Park and The Meadows.
“It’s been great,” states Wrenn, about the relationship between him and the prominent trainer. “He runs a tremendous operation and he’s amazing to drive for. Most importantly, he’s displayed a great deal of faith in me over the past several years, something I truly appreciate.”
That trust was never more evident than on Saturday, June 14th at Woodbine Mohawk Park, when Wrenn hopped onto the sulky ahead of the 11th race, behind a Burke trainee, gearing up for what would be the biggest race of his career.
Louprint, a son of Sweet Lou, proved early on at age two that he was far from an ordinary colt. Co-bred and co-owned by Ron Burke himself, the talented pacer turned heads as a rookie, earning divisional honours in the U.S. at the end of the 2024 season.
Heading into the million-dollar North America Cup for three-year-old pacers, Louprint carried a perfect 4-for-four record as a sophomore, along with the weight of expectation. He was undoubtedly the one to beat, adding even more pressure to the individual tasked with guiding him on harness racing’s biggest stage.
“I knew it was the biggest race of my career, but I wasn’t nervous about that aspect of it, which surprised me a little bit,” admits Ronnie. “I think the mental fortitude that my dad instilled in me from a young age is the reason why I was so even-keeled that night.
“For me, the nerves came from just wanting to get the job done for everyone involved [with the colt], along with everyone else who has supported me throughout my career and was an important figure.”
As the field lined up behind the gate, Louprint wore a green saddle pad, starting from PP #4 - the winningest post in North America Cup history, no less. But on this night, green wasn’t just a colour, it was a sign that Louprint and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. had more than just luck, skill, and talent on their side.
After settling into fourth early, as the 9/5 second choice, Wrenn made a bold move, launching Louprint in a powerful brush to the lead. They touched down on the engine just past the half in a blistering :53.1. The speed mission didn’t end there, as prompted along by Jason Bartlett and Dandy Ideal, Wrenn and his charge reached the three-quarter pole in 1:19.1 - the fastest three-quarters ever paced in North America Cup history.
What followed was a heart-pounding stretch duel, as 53/1 longshot Madden Oaks, driven by fellow Michigan native, Braxten Boyd, came up the inside to give Wrenn Jr. and ‘Lou Jr.’ everything they could handle. Louprint’s toughness was on full display, however, as he refused to yield, and scored by a head in 1:47.1 - a new stakes record.
“He’s a terrific horse, and he showed it tonight, “ said Ronnie in his post-race interview. “It wasn’t ideal to go that fast in the third quarter. But you know, that’s the card I was dealt, and this colt really dug in.
“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.
When Ronnie Wrenn Jr. made his way back to a very emotional winner’s circle, he was greeted by trainer Ron Burke, part of the ownership group, and - most importantly - his wife, Brianna. While some close to him couldn’t make the trip to Canada for the usual reasons, others couldn’t be there for a far deeper reason - they’re no longer present here on Earth. But their presence was still felt, and they were there in spirit.
“My good buddy passed away a couple of months ago; it really affected the whole harness racing industry,” Wrenn said afterwards. “He was here with me tonight though and we got the job done.”
That “good buddy” Ronnie referenced was Hunter Myers, whose life was tragically cut short following a harness racing accident back in March - a loss that sent shockwaves through the entire harness racing community.
But for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., the heartbreak hit even harder than it did for most. Hunter wasn’t just a fellow reinsman, he had become more like a little brother. The two shared a close bond, built on mutual respect, friendship, and countless hours spent together, bonding over the two things they loved most: harness racing and their families.
“Brianna and I were at the beach with Chloe [Hunter’s widow] and their son last week, and she was telling us the story about Hunter watching me win the Breeders Crown with Louprint last fall. She told us how he was jumping up-and-down during the stretch drive, yelling at the TV, screaming and crying with joy after we got it done. It made me smile, that’s for sure.
“I wish she would’ve gotten a chance to relive that same celebration, but I know he’s jumping up-and-down wherever he is and rooting me on. I still miss him greatly… I’ll do whatever I can to carry on his legacy through me.”
Like Wrenn, Ron Burke has also endured recent loss, having said goodbye to his father, Mickey Burke Sr., in May of 2024. Mickey wasn’t just the architect of the Burke Brigade, he was a mentor, and a loving father figure to both Ron and Michael Burke, who are carrying on the legacy that he built. And while Saturday’s victory was a moment of immense joy, it was also a quiet reminder that one of the people who mattered most wasn’t there to share it.
“I was standing there in the winner’s circle, relishing the moment, and then I came to the realization that I wouldn’t be able to give my dad a call, to talk to him,” said an emotional Ron Burke, a few days after winning his second North America Cup. “He was always the first call I’d make after a race like that... It kind of hit me that we were going to my mom’s the next day, to celebrate Father’s Day, only to realize he wasn’t going to be there. We still do the same thing we’ve always done [on that day]... The only difference is that we’re missing the leader.
“That North America Cup victory was even more special because it was the last crop from Sweet Lou that my dad was a part of prior to his passing,” shares Ron. “My dad instilled hard work and dedication into us, and I think we saw a little bit of that in Louprint in his performance on Saturday night.”
While Mickey Burke laid the foundation of their stellar training operation, the same can likely be said about their prized stallion, Sweet Lou, who is at the forefront of the Burke’s breeding operation. Fittingly enough, the Hall of Fame trainer thinks that Louprint could be just as talented as his sire.
“We’ll have to see how the rest of the year shapes out, but Louprint could very well end up being the better horse,” states Burke. “[Sweet] Lou had a tough trip in the North America Cup final, the same way Louprint did, but only one of them was able to get the job done in that race.
“I think one thing I’ll say is that we’ve gotten a lot better at managing them leading up to races like that [the North America Cup]. You learn as you go, and I think we could’ve done a better job with [Sweet] Lou.”
Speaking of people perfectly suited to their roles, Burke couldn’t say enough about the man who guided his homebred to the signature victory. While others may have had their doubts, Ron Burke’s confidence in Ronnie Wrenn never wavered, not for a second.
“Of course I heard some of the outside noise about Ronnie [Wrenn], and whether or not he could get the job done in a race like that. That thought never crossed my mind, and I’m glad we could silence some of those pundits… I mean, he won The Breeders Crown from post-nine last year, it’s not as if he hasn’t won a big race…
“Look, if you see the respect that the top drivers show Ronnie, with the way they not only race against him and talk to him, you better believe he’s always had their respect… Especially now more than ever.”
Like Burke, Wrenn couldn’t celebrate this career-defining moment on Father’s Day with the man who helped prepare him for it. Ronnie Wrenn Sr. passed away in 2014.
But while he couldn’t share the moment with his dad, Wrenn did get to celebrate his victory with his greatest supporters: his wife, Brianna, and their three children - Easton (6), William (3), and eight-month-old, Maya. And as delighted as he was to win the big race, nothing excites him more than just being ‘Dad’.
“My oldest son, he kind of understands when I have a big win, but the other two don’t really know everything [when it comes to what I do], and I kind of love that.
“As cool as it is to win a million-dollar race, nothing is cooler than playing the role of dad, that’s something I take pride in the most.”
This feature originally appeared in the July issue of TROT Magazine. Subscribe to TROT today by clicking the banner below.
