The Woodbine crowd erupted into applause and cheers as Duckduckduck, under the steady guidance of Emma-Jayne Wilson, powered past the leaders to capture the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes on Sunday. The Ontario-bred colt, sent off at a long 36-1, delivered one of the most memorable upsets of the season, leaving spectators and trainers alike marveling at his determination and focus.
From the start, Duckduckduck displayed a mix of playful energy and sharp awareness. Settled into fifth early, he watched the front-runners Big Bold and First and Reload Raleigh set a brisk pace, covering the opening quarter in :22.20. Through the backstretch, Reload Raleigh engaged Mister Blue in a thrilling duel, gaining a half-length advantage at :45.34 as the pair tried to sprint away from the rest of the field. But Duckduckduck, making only his second stakes appearance, had conserved enough energy to mount a late surge.
Turning into the stretch, Wilson angled him wide to navigate the kickback, and the bay gelding responded with authority. With a powerful stride, Duckduckduck overtook Reload Raleigh and crossed the finish line 2 ½ lengths clear. Big Time Boss held on for third, and Princecrest finished strongly to take fourth. The final time of 1:12.12 for the five-furlong test underscored the colt’s impressive burst of speed.
“This horse just showed me how aware he was from the start,” said Wilson, who returned from a recent injury to claim her first stakes win since coming back and the 132nd of her illustrious career. “He had a little kid in him at the gate, playful and eager, but he was completely focused. When I asked him for everything, he gave it all. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Trainer Evette Chartrand-Hoek, celebrating her second career stakes victory following Friendly Ghost’s Elgin Stakes triumph earlier this year, praised Duckduckduck’s development. “After he broke his maiden, he was a completely different horse,” she said. “Strong, professional, and full of confidence. I knew he could be the sleeper of the race. His gallop work showed me he had it in him, and today he proved it on the big stage.”
Duckduckduck is a son of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Philanthropist mare Peggy O, bred by Kingview Farms. A $57,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2024 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, the bay gelding has steadily built his career, finishing second in his debut on August 2, fifth in the Simcoe Stakes later that month, and breaking his maiden convincingly on November 1. Each outing hinted at his potential, but few could have predicted a 36-1 upset in a stakes race of this caliber.
The Clarendon Stakes, contested for Ontario-bred or Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, has long been a proving ground for promising juveniles, and Duckduckduck’s victory signals a colt on the rise. With his powerful turn of foot and mental composure, the son of Silent Name has quickly become one to watch among Ontario’s emerging talent.
As the crowd cheered, Wilson and Chartrand-Hoek shared a celebratory moment in the winner’s circle, a fitting cap to a day that showcased the unpredictability and thrill of horse racing. “This is what makes racing so special,” Chartrand-Hoek said. “You prepare, you hope, and then a horse like Duckduckduck reminds you why you love it. Today was magic.”
Looking ahead, the team hopes Duckduckduck can continue his progression through the stakes ranks, potentially taking on other prominent juvenile contests at Woodbine this season. With his combination of speed, focus, and professionalism, he has the tools to leave a lasting mark on Ontario racing.
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