Duckduckduck announced himself as a versatile and progressive three-year-old when producing a decisive late run to capture Sunday’s $100,000 Lake Huron Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack . The victory marked the gelding’s second career stakes success and gave him a winning start in the Ontario Sired Heritage Series.
Lake Huron Stakes Result
Making his first appearance on turf and partnering jockey Pietro Moran for the first time, Duckduckduck broke sharply from gate five in the five-furlong contest for three-year-old colts and geldings. While showing early speed, Moran was content to settle just behind the pace as Quadzilla and heavily supported rival Wine After Whiskey disputed the lead through a brisk opening quarter-mile in 22.16 seconds.
The front-running pair continued their duel around the bend, with Duckduckduck travelling comfortably three wide in close attendance. As the field straightened for home, the Evette Chartrand-Hoek-trained runner was switched widest and began to close rapidly on the leaders.
Wine After Whiskey briefly looked poised to land the prize, but Duckduckduck’s finishing kick proved too strong. He swept past inside the final furlong and quickly established a clear advantage, stopping the clock in 56.98 seconds after a half-mile split of 45.11. At the line, he held a comfortable one-and-three-quarter-length margin.
For Moran, who was riding the gelding for the first time, the fast start proved decisive.
“Once he broke on top like that and they went up in front of him, we got to stay right behind and down the lane he did it all,” Moran said after the race.
The success carried extra significance on Father’s Day weekend, with Moran finishing ahead of his father, David Moran, who partnered Silver Is Best and crossed the line fifth.
Owned by Sue Leslie and bred in Ontario by Kingview Farms, Duckduckduck improved his career record to six starts with three victories, one second and one third. Leslie praised both the horse’s temperament and the efforts of the team behind him.
“Evette’s marvelous, she’s a tremendous trainer and Charlie does such a great job with the horse too,” she said. “He’s very flexible. He doesn’t really let anything fluster him much.”
Leslie also credited Moran’s handling at the start, noting that the gelding had occasionally been hesitant leaving the stalls.
Duckduckduck first showed his potential last autumn when breaking his maiden at the third attempt before following up with victory in the Clarendon Stakes. After returning from a winter break and finishing sixth in an optional claiming event in May, he took a significant step forward with this performance in the Lake Huron Stakes 2026.
Lake Huron Stakes Result
Sent off at 9-1, Duckduckduck rewarded connections with a career-best display and now looks a leading contender for the remaining legs of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series.
For Woodbine racegoers, the performance offered another reminder that Duckduckduck is developing into one of Ontario’s most promising homebred performers of his generation.
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