Woodbine Notebook: July 24

Just ‘Ducky’

Duckduckduck, trained by Evette Chartrand-Hoek, faces 10 rivals in Sunday’s $150,000 Lake Superior Stakes.

Last time out, the son of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Philanthropist mare Peggy O took top prize in the Lake Huron Stakes.

On July 12, Duckduckduck covered 4 furlongs on the main track in :51.20. One week later, over the same course and at the same distance, he stopped the clock in :48.80.

“He has such a wonderful kick in the late going, but that is not the way he trains,” noted Chartrand-Hoek. “He’s not a real work horse, in that he just does what he has to do. But when you take him over on race day, it’s a completely different story.

“He doesn’t set himself down when he breezes and we don’t really ask for that. He just does his works and he stays in good order that way. He’s doing well coming into the race.”

Such a ‘Diva’

Multiple stakes winner Souper Diva, trained by Steven Chircop for 6 Deep Stable, takes on eight rivals in Sunday’s $150,000 Thunder Bay Stakes.

The dark bay has finished second in her past four starts, including her most recent outing on June 21, the Georgian Bay Stakes, contested at 5 furlongs on the Woodbine inner turf.

On July 12, Souper Diva covered 4 furlongs on the main track in :47.40.

“She was a very good work horse last year and that’s carried over to this year,” said Chircop. “Her last work prepping for this was probably as good as any work she’s ever had. Typically, she works well all the time, and this one was no different. She goes out there with a winning attitude and displays the same determination she does in her races.

“I think going 6 furlongs in the Thunder Bay will be better suited for her. Anywhere between 6 and 7 furlongs, probably 6 ½ furlongs, is most idea for her. I think getting back on the synthetic and stretching out will be to her advantage.”

Tiller time

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Tiller won his 2,200th career race on Monday with Red Weaver.

‘Blue’ on the green

Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Dakotah Blue steps up to the stakes ranks when she takes on eight rivals in the $175,000 Ontario Colleen (G3T), a 1-mile race on the inner turf for 3-year-old fillies, Saturday at Woodbine.

The filly heads into the Ontario Colleen off a hard-charging fourth at 7 ½ furlongs over the course on June 6.

Seventh and 13 lengths behind the leader at the half-mile mark, Dakotah Blue rallied emphatically down the lane to finish 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner.

“It was a very tough race,” said trainer Rachel Halden. “In my opinion, she ran a very credible race, one where she had another outside post to contend with. She looked like she was looking for a little more ground. We had this race on the radar and then we were of the thought as to whether we should try to squeeze another race in, but that would have left us too close to this race. We decided to bite the bullet and wait for this race. She has a good turn of foot and is always running on. This little bit of a stretch out should suit her well.”