Uncle Dodo breaks through in Victoria dandy

TORONTO, July 12, 2026 – Uncle Dodo shone late in a gritty maiden breaking performance, to win the $125,000 Victoria Stakes Sunday at Woodbine. ​

Ridden by Romero Maragh, Uncle Dodo broke cleanly from post position 5 in the 5 1/2-furlong main track dash for 2-year-olds. And settled in 4th position behind dueling leaders Titan Ready and Hesatrooper through an opening quarter-mile in :22.50. ​ ​

Around the turn, Titan Ready shook clear of Hesatrooper, as Klassen, the lone filly in the race, quickened along the rail before angling out to challenge Titan Ready, with Uncle Dodo looming 3-wide. ​

Into the lane, the leading trio turned for home, fanning out three abreast in a sprint for the wire, through a half-mile split of :45.88. ​

Inside the 1/8th pole, the filly, racing between foes began to lose ground and it became a 2-horse battle with Uncle Dodo (outside) and a stubborn Titan Ready (ridden by Fraser Aebly) dueling eventfully to the wire, with Uncle Dodo prevailing gamely in a photo finish. The final running time was 1:04.98.

“I was pretty sure I won it,” said a jubilant Maragh.

“I lost my stick within the last 70 yards. ​ It got slapped out of my hand, but I guess he responded nicely to hand riding, so I was happy for that.”

Trained by Barbara Minshall, trip handicappers likely had the bay son of Uncle Mo on their ‘watch lists’ after his career debut at Woodbine back in June. ​ ​ Racing in a 5 ½ furlong main track maiden special weight event, Uncle Dodo broke a step slow, was 5th at the 1/4 pole but rallied out wide and was 3rd, beaten a 1/2 length in a blanket finish, while finishing with a commanding gallop out.

‘He’s a young horse. First time he just got the first time jitters or else he would have won,” said Maragh. ​

In making his stakes debut and going first time Lasix, Minshall had specific pre-race instructions for her jockey.

“I told Romero to break away from the pony,” said Minshall. “I wanted him to make sure he broke out of the gate good. ​ I said you got to get good early position, so that’s he got a chance.”

The bay colt, out of Dream It Is (by Shackleford), a graded and local stakes winner for Minshall, showed his class in the final yards of the Victoria to notch his first career win. ​ ​ ​

“It was close,” said Minshall. ​ ​

“Sid’s horse was there, you know we were running, but he’s very game, just like his Mom.”

A Kentucky-homebred for Hoolie Racing Stable LLC, Uncle Dodo improved his record to 1-0-1 from 2 career starts.

Uncle Dodo was listed at 2-1 morning line, went off at 7-2 and paid $9.40 for the win. ​

Titan Ready a hard luck 2^nd, the filly Klassen was 3^rd and fellow firster Merckx was 4^th. ​

Phil McSween, Woodbine