It took every inch of racetrack for Duke to keep his impressive win streak alive on Sunday evening at Rideau
Carleton Raceway for trainer Jamie Copley, who watched the photogenic pacer eke out a neck decision en route to posting his ninth consecutive victory.
Duke, who entered tonight’s assignment as the winningest horse in North America in 2009, used last second heroics to post the win for his new catch-drover, Robbie Robinson.
Robinson got away fifth with the six-year-old son of Dexter Nukes, who was sent off as the 1-9 favourite in the nine-horse affair, before tipping to the outside and catching cover while still sitting fifth at the mid-way point of the mile.
Duke, who improved to fourth on the outside as the field prepared to enter the final quarter of the mile, swung off his cover and used a :28.4 final frame to get up for the neck decision in time of 1:57.4 over the hard-closing tandem of Fox Valley Calvin and SJs Nitelife.
Copley and Dave Tingley of Guelph, ON share ownership on the gelding, who now owns a 13-for-22 lifetime record. The pacer has banked $53,477 to date.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.