A pair of Ontario-sired three-year-old stakes, the $150,000 Lake Superior and $150,000 Thunder Bay, share the spotlight on Sunday at Woodbine.
Owned by Sue Leslie, Duckduckduck heads into the 6-furlong Lake Superior off a 9-1 score in the Lake Huron Stakes, which is also part of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series (tip.ontarioracing.com/tip-stakes-program/).
Trained by Evette Chartrand-Hoek, the son of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Philanthropist mare Peggy O took the 5-furlong inner turf dash by 1 ¾ lengths, in a final time of :56.98, on June 21. It was the gelding’s first race on the grass and second start of the season.
“He’s growing up and he’s evolving, body-wise and mind-wise,” said Chartrand-Hoek. “He obviously liked the turf. He had his strong kick and was really rolling down the lane.”
Duckduckduck was sixth in his 2026 debut, a 5 ½-furlong main track optional claimer on May 16.
“It was a little puzzling for us,” said Chartrand-Hoek. “We just had to blow that one off. And sure enough, he came back to his old self.”
After a second in his career debut on Aug. 2, 2025, Duckduckduck was fifth in Simcoe Stakes 22 days later. On Nov. 1, the bay gelding broke his maiden, taking a 5-furlong main track race by one length as the 5-2 choice.
Just over three weeks after that win, Duckduckduck, bred by Kingview Farms, won the Clarendon Stakes. Sent on his way at 36-1 in the event for Ontario-bred or Ontario-sired two-year-olds, he stormed home to a 2 ½-length triumph in 1:12.12.
“We knew [he had talent] when he was a two-year-old,” said Chartrand-Hoek. “And to end his first year off that way was fantastic. He had a very good first year at the races and then a nice, easy winter. He had three months hanging out in the snow and then came back. You could tell how much he had grown, physically, and mentally.
“Over the last month, you can really see his body starting to change, just like three-year-olds do.”
Duckduckduck was a $57,000 (CDN) purchase (Hip #107) at the 2024 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
“We love him,” said Chartrand-Hoek. “We did right from the start. He’s an absolute clown. He has this rubber ball in his stall and just goes rounds with it. And then all of a sudden, he’s quiet and you don’t even know he’s in his stall. But once he sees that ball, he’s off doing that again.”
Charlie Brown is the groom.
Recent works: 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.”
Fast Facts: Secret Reserve won the first running of the Lake Superior Stakes on Oct. 22, 2021.
Wagering menu for the Lake Superior: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / $1 Swinger
Field for the $150,000 Lake Superior
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Humormeastory – Jalon Samuel – Patrick Dixon
2 – Tiho Srce – Austin Adams – Patrick Dixon
3 – Pepper Brooks (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller
4 – Auntie’s Bambino – Xarel Forde – Louis Capi
5 – Gone With Duwyn – Fraser Aebly – Barb Minshall
6 – Duckduckduck – Pietro Moran – Evette Chartand-Hoek
7 – Quadzilla (S) – Romero Ramsay Maragh – John Mattine
8 – Chanchito – Jason Hoyte – Anthony Husbands
9 – Egbert Who – Keveh Nicholls – Richard Hayashi
10 – Wine After Whiskey – Ryan Munger – Michelle Love
11 – Silver Is Best – David Moran – Bill Tharrenos
Souper Diva and jockey Jose Campos winning the Victorian Queen Stakes on September 14, 2025 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
Souper Diva looks to go one better in the Thunder Bay
Multiple stakes winner Souper Diva, trained by Steven Chircop for 6 Deep Stable, faces off against eight foes in Sunday’s $150,000 Thunder Bay Stakes, set for 6 furlongs on the Woodbine main track.
Sired by Souper Speedy out of the Sharp Humor mare Secret Chords, Souper Diva has been a model of consistency throughout her 10-race career, sporting a 3-4-0 mark to go with $232,246 in purse earnings.
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.
“She’s been a very consistent horse,” said Chircop. “She’s had that four straight runner-up efforts now. I’m not going to lie; it’s been a little frustrating. When you are a big favourite, you expect to win, but she ran winning races without winning. In the Georgian Bay, a horse went by her and she fought back to reclaim second spot. So, all in all, it was a very good effort.
“She has been determined in all those past four races. Every time she was passed, she dug back in. She’s a small horse and when she runs in these stakes races, she’s carrying a lot more weight than the others because of the stakes she’s won. Being a small horse and carrying that extra weight is a disadvantage for her, but that said, she gives her all each race.”
Souper Diva debuted last May at Woodbine and finished sixth in a 5-furlong sprint over the main track after breaking outward at the beginning. One race later, on June 15, this time at 4 ½ furlongs on the main track, she broke her maiden courtesy of a three-quarter length score in :52.74.
After a ninth in the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 12, Souper Diva launched a two-race win streak, both at the stakes level. She posted a 4 ¼-length triumph in the Muskoka, a 6 ½-furlong main track event for two-year-old fillies foaled in Canada, on Aug. 24. One race later, on Sept. 14, she took top prize in the Victorian Queen, also at 6 ½ panels over the Woodbine main track.
Souper Diva completed her rookie campaign with a fourth in the South Ocean Stakes and a second in the Shady Well.
“You always hope that the talent they show as a two-year-old translates over to their three-year-old season,” said Chircop. “It really is hard to knock her in any way. She’s a filly who has a lot of speed and can carry that speed, along with a lot of determination. Unfortunately, she hasn’t won any of the past four races, but it’s impossible to knock her for how hard she has tried.
“Whether it’s horses her age or older horses, you know what to expect from her.”
Bred by Northern Dawn Stables Inc., Souper Diva was a $23,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2024 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale. Chad Sabra is the groom.
Recent works: 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 ideal for her. I think getting back on the synthetic and stretching out will be to her advantage.”
Fast Facts: Lorena won the first running of the Thunder Bay Stakes on Oct. 22, 2021.
Wagering menu for the Thunder Bay: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 6-7-8) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 6-7-8-9) / $1 Swinger
Field for the $150,000 Thunder Bay
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Arianna’s Tour (S) – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Krista Cole
2 – Souper Sporty – Sahin Civaci – Mike De Paulo
3 – Pageant Queen – Rafael Hernandez – Jamie Begg
4 – Souper Diva – Jose Campos – Steven Chircop
5 – My Turn Now – Pietro Moran – Patrick Dixon
6 – Ballet Beauty – David Moran – John LeBlanc, Jr.
7 – Splash of Bourbon – Fraser Aebly – Sid Attard
8 – Artful Diamond – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Philip Hall
9 – Zabarta – Desean Bynoe – Bill Tharrenos
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