Instant classic: Louprint wins Pepsi North America Cup thriller

MILTON, June 14, 2025 – 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 night 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 post 10 to secure the lead over fellow outsider Swingtown, while Joel And The Jets settled into third, followed by Louprint, with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. at the controls.

After carving out an opening quarter in :26.0, 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 in third and Swingtown fourth.

Louprint, fresh off his North America Cup elimination score last Saturday, reached three quarters in a blistering 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 was third and Captain Optimistic 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 and co-owner 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.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park