Rib fractures explain Louprint’s Breeders Crown woes

After finishing off the board for the first time in his 22-race career in this past Saturday’s Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old male pacers, multiple veterinary examinations determined that Louprint (Sweet Lou) had fractured ribs, co-owner Mark Weaver said Wednesday.

His connections traced the potential cause of the injuries back to an incident earlier in the week during which Louprint got his front legs caught over his stall gate. Weaver said the horse showed no obvious signs of any harm heading into the Breeders Crown final.

“We had no idea,” Weaver said. “There was nothing to indicate the severity of it, and it might be something where racing aggravated the situation. If you watch the race, he made a little break in the first turn, and that’s not him. Obviously, we would not have raced him had we known. We scratched him out of the Meadowlands Pace (in July). He would have been scratched Saturday, 100 percent.”

Following the race, Louprint appeared guarded when trainer Ron Burke examined him, particularly around the chest area. Louprint was sent to the stable’s regular veterinarian, Dr. Keith Brown at Brown Equine Hospital in Pennsylvania, who after taking X-rays suggested Louprint go to Dr. Kent Allen at Virginia Equine Imaging. A bone scan and ultrasound there confirmed Louprint’s injury.

“We now know what it is and it’s certainly a logical explanation as to why he put in the only bad race of his career,” Weaver said.

Louprint, the Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male pacer in 2024, has 10 wins and a second in 12 starts this year and $1.02 million in earnings. His victories include two Grade 1 stakes, the North America Cup and Little Brown Jug. He entered the Breeders Crown finals as the No. 1-ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, a spot he held unanimously for two weeks and 12 weeks overall.

For his career, the son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer, has won 17 of 22 races, finished second three times and third once, and banked $1.76 million. He is owned by breeders Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phil Collura, as well as Larry Karr.

“He’s like my child,” Weaver said. “He’s had a great career, and I hate to see it potentially end this way. He’s had a great run.”

A decision on Louprint’s future will be made shortly.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA