Duckduckduck delivers 36-1 Clarendon Stakes upset

TORONTO, November 23, 2025 – Duckduckduck, under a patient Emma-Jayne Wilson, stormed home to take the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

Sent off at 36-1 in the race for Ontario-bred or Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, Duckduckduck was settled into fifth early, while Big Bold and First and Reload Raleigh, off a game score in the Frost King Stakes on October 19, matched strides early through an opening quarter in :22.20.

Reload Raleigh then contended with Mister Blue, with the former a half-length clear in :45.34 as the pair looked to sprint away from their pursuers heading into the turn for home. Reload Raleigh had gained the upper hand coming off the turn, but Duckduckduck, making his second stakes appearance, announced his arrival and was full of run straightening for the stretch drive.

Ahead by a half-length at the stretch call, Reload Raleigh dug in gamely, but was unable to turn back Duckduckduck, who crossed the wire a 2 ½-length winner. Big Time Boss was third and Princecrest finished fourth.

The final time was 1:12.12. ​

Wilson, a multiple graded stakes winner, won her first stakes race (and 132nd overall) after a recent return from injury.

“This horse just showed to me how aware he was, right from the get-go, you know, full of focus, full of confidence,” said the lifetime winner of nearly 1,950 races, which includes a Queen’s Plate triumph with Mike Fox in 2007. “[He] had a little kid in him, like playing around a little in the gate. He wanted to go, but the awareness and his focus was just brilliant. I mean, the kickback was a bit hard, so we went a little wider, and he handled everything brilliantly. And when I asked him for everything, he did, he just put it all out there. I was impressed.”

A son of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Philanthropist mare Peggy O, bred by Kingview Farms, Duckduckduck delivered trainer Evette Chartrand-Hoek with her second career stakes victory. Friendly Ghost, winner of this year’s Elgin Stakes, was her first.

“After he broke his maiden, he was a different horse,” said Chartrand-Hoek. “He was a strong horse. He was professional. And my gallop boy gave me a lot of confidence. And yeah, I thought he was the sleeper of the race.”

After a second to launch his career on August 2, Duckduckduck, owned by Sue Leslie, was fifth in Simcoe Stakes 22 days later. Last time out, on November 1, the bay gelding broke his maiden, taking a five-furlong main track race by one length as the 5-2 choice.

A $57,000 (CDN) purchase (Hip #107) at the 2024 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Duckduckduck returned $74.50 for the Clarendon win. ​ ​

Chris Lomon, Woodbine