Eastie Boy a beast in $1 million Metro Pace
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MILTON, September 26, 2026 – Eastie Boy stayed strong down the lane to take all the spoils in the Grade 1, $1 million Metro Pace, Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With the scratch of unbeaten Shalom Hanover, the door was open for nine other rookies to step up and seize the moment in the preeminent classic for two-year-old pacers.
It was Eastie Boy, full brother to two-time Dan Patch Award winner Louprint, who shone brightest.
Th Theo stormed off the gate and settled on top shortly after the starter car pulled away, as Eastie Boy, the 3-5 mutuel choice, chased the early pacesetter into the first turn, and then took command strides ahead of the opening quarter in :27.1.
Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. slowed the tempo along the backstretch, while Th Theo, Cattletracks and Rose Run Cowboy kept tabs on the leader through a half in :55.4.
Eastie Boy, fresh off his sharp Metro Pace elimination score one week earlier, was still calling the shots through three-quarters in 1:22.4 but found himself the target of rivals on both sides, including an outside bid from Global Choice.
Th Theo endeavored to reel in the leader in mid-stretch, but Eastie Boy, under urging from Wrenn, Jr., was able to find enough to fend off his foe, going on to secure a three-quarter length win in a career-best 1:49.2. Th Theo was second. Global Choice was third and Rose Run Cowboy finished fourth.
"The colt was awesome tonight,” said Wrenn, Jr., who earned his first Metro Pace trophy. “Proud of him. He raced great. I was confident I had a lot of go, but it seemed like Dougie (McNair, driving Th Theo) had a lot of go too, so I wasn't sure until I got near the wire. But this colt's been racing great all year, and he's peaking at the right time.”
A son of Sweet Lou out of the Rockin Image mare Rockin Racer, Eastie Boy is trained by Ron Burke for owners and breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.
"It means the world to us,” said Burke, who also celebrated his first Metro Pace triumph. “Sweet Lou has been the reason we became breeders. We wanted to support him, and it turned out to be the best thing we ever did because he has supported us all the way. So, you know, with it being Sweet Lou, it's always means way more to me than any of the other horses."
Eastie Boy, who took the Tyler B Stakes at The Meadows on Aug. 21, now has a Metro Pace title to add to his list of accomplishments.
"It's unbelievable to have Louprint's brother do it,” said Collura. “He's just been super. He raced great, and like Ronnie said, we didn't think he was as good as Louprint, but he's been getting better and better as we're going along.”
With the victory, Eastie Boy is now 4-2-1 from nine starts.
He paid $3.20 for the win.
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park
