Red Mile: Loua Dipa breaks world record for rookie pacing fillies

Less than 24 hours after Odds On Mr Mamba posted a world record clocking for a 2-year-old male pacer, Loua Dipa pulled off the same feat for a rookie pacing filly at The Red Mile, as she took her International Stallion Stakes division in 1:48 for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Ron Burke. Sweet Lou had a siring sweep of the three events as his daughters I'm A Lou Lou and Topville Lucky were also victorious.

After getting away in mid-pack in the $71,000 race, Wrenn Jr. had Loua Dipa out and on the move prior to the 27 1/5 quarter, and she took over control on the way to the 54 1/4 half-mile marker. From there, she put three-quarters on the board in 1:22 1/5 before she sprinted home in 25 4/5 to widen and win by 8 1/2 lengths over a first-up Hope Hill (Dexter Dunn). Fabulous Hanover (Scott Zeron) came in third.

The time of 1:48 was three-fifths of a second better than the prior mark, which was held by two Burke trainees in Warrawee Ubeaut and Loua Dipa's full sister Looksgoodinloulou. Both of those performances were also at The Red Mile.

"I wanted to end up on the front by the half and it worked out," Wrenn Jr. said after the race. "Obviously I was the horse to follow, so I think Timmy [Tetrick, driving Carnation] was happy to follow me. I just wanted to win the race. Time wasn't that important, but she felt really strong, so I let her pace through the wire, and she did it pretty easy. In the last two weeks she's really taken a turn for the best, and I'm really looking forward to the Breeders Crown."

A homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Loua Dipa has a summary of 7-1-1 from ten starts and has earned $381,045 and paid $2.10 to win.

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Burke also won the opening $71,000 section with I'm A Lou Lou in 1:49 3/5. With Tim Tetrick at the helm, she watched as Gracious (Todd McCarthy) and Rocksy (Andy McCarthy) cut opening-half fractions of 27 2/5 and 55 1/5, then began a first-over move heading to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters. She went by Rocksy for good coming off the far turn and pulled away through the lane to score by 3 1/2 lengths over Gracious, with Bettor Be A Star (Patrick Ryder) back in third.

Bred by Add Inc., I'm A Lou Lou is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Larry Karr and Phil Collura. She has three wins, two seconds and a pair of thirds from eight outings, has banked $212,944 and returned $5.24 to win.

"We really loved her last year; she trained down great," said Karr. "She was racing great the whole year so far until the She's A Great Lady - she actually got some minor stomach issues. Ronnie [Burke] took her down here, did some minor vet work to her and she trained super this week. Now we'll just get her ready for Breeders Crown."

In the final $72,000 test, Topville Lucky led at the 27 1/5 quarter, 55 1/5 half and 1:23 1/5 on her way to a 2 3/4 length triumph in 1:49 1/5. On Heir (A. McCarthy) was the runner-up from first-over and Seaside Shuffle (Wrenn Jr.) checked in third.

Trainer Andrew Harris also co-owns Topville Lucky, who was bred by Jeremy Yoder, with partners William Pollock and Bruce Areman. Topville Lucky has six victories from eight trips behind the gate, has put away $372,000 and paid $3.04 to win.

"She's just been a great filly," Harris said after the race. "I've got to thank Bill [Pollock] and Bruce [Areman] for stepping up to the plate and taking a shot on her because she's a real delight to have."

Harris also confirmed that this race was her final start of the season.

--quotes by Ray Cotolo--