Miguel Hernandez rode Ducky Drake to a neck victory in Sunday’s $55,090 Lea County Sprint Stakes at Zia Park.

Prepped by Bart Hone for owners Ralph and Aury Todd of Santa Ynez, California, Ducky Drake covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.69 while earning his 15th win in 40 starts. The homebred 8-year-old gelding returned an $11 win mutuel as the 9-2 third choice in the wagering.

Ducky Drake is one of 20 stakes winners from nine crops sired by Benchmark, a 19-year-old son of the Raise A Native stallion Alydar who won three Grade 2 stakes in California in 1997, including the $248,700 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita Park. A half brother to two-time Grade 1 winner Tranquility Lake, Benchmark has sired the earners of more than $21.01 million, and his 409 starters include Brother Derek, the winner of the 2006 Santa Anita Derby (G1). He stands for a $4,000 fee at Ballena Vista Farm at Ramona, California.

Ducky Drake is also one of seven winners from eight starters foaled by Alice May, an unraced 17-year-old daughter of the His Majesty stallion Pleasant Colony. Alice May is a half sister to two stakes winners, including The Tin Man, a gelding by Affirmed who won four Grade 1 stakes from 2002-07, including the ’06 Arlington Million Stakes at Arlington Park near Chicago.

Ducky Drake’s third dam, the Northern Dancer mare Dancing Liz, won two stakes in southern California in 1976. A 1972 Kentucky-bred foal, Dancing Liz was a half sister to Crimson Slew, a colt by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew who 1989 Seabiscuit Claiming Stakes on the turf at Hollywood Park and ran third in the ’88 San Antonio Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita.

Campaigned in Arizona and New Mexico, Ducky Drake has earned $485,939, and his six lifetime stakes wins include last year’s 6-furlong, $50,000 G Malleah Handicap at Turf Paradise. The gelding has won five stakes in New Mexico, including the 2008 Lea County Sprint Stakes. He also ran second, 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Peace Chant, in last season’s 6-furlong, $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Stakes at Turf Paradise.

Kineticat Yankee, the 17-10 favorite, ran second and was followed by Tactful, Wiredfortwotwenty, Chimney Sweep, River Echo, and Supreme Secret.

Kineticat Yankee is a lightly raced 6-year-old Tale Of The Cat stallion racing for Brad and Kim Bingham and Nick Morris. Kineticat Yankee has banked $105,032 from nine outs, and his four wins include the 6-furlong Free Spirits Handicap at Ruidoso Downs on August 28.

A 4-year-old bay gelding by Bertrando, Tactful earned $5,500 to push his bankroll to $119,540 from 16 races. Tactful was claimed by his current owner, Arthur C. Olivier, for $16,000 at Golden Gate Fields on August 27, and the gelding has earned $21,820 since the claim.