Dotted Line and jockey Justin Stein winning the Frost King Stakes
Photo: Michael Burns
Woodbine Communications
TORONTO, November 29, 2019 – Dotted Line, a two-year-old son of Signature Red, looks for another vintage performance, this time in Wednesday evening’s $100,000 Kingarvie Stakes, at Woodbine.
The 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race for Ontario-sired two-year-olds has attracted eight starters, including Norseman Racing Stable homebred Dotted Line.
Trained by Sid Attard, the gelding gallops into Wednesday’s feature off a 49-1 upset in the Frost King Stakes on November 9.
Under Justin Stein, Dotted Line found a seam along the rail and then fended off previously unbeaten Wesley Ward charge Artie’s Princess, notching a neck nod in the seven-furlong main track event.
While the tote board suggested otherwise, Stein, who was aboard Dotted Line for the first time, was confident they would outrun their odds.
“I liked him,” said the winner of 1,073 career races, including the 2012 Queen’s Plate with Strait of Dover. “I was pretty surprised to see him at those long odds. I asked him to be there, in the spot where we ended up sitting. And then, when I asked him to run along the rail, he responded. When Artie’s Princess hooked up with him, he just dug in and there was no thought of losing in his mind – that was unacceptable.
“Once I realized he was putting her away on his own, I put away the stick and pushed on him. He’s given me even more confidence. Not only does he have ability, but he also has the heart. Usually, you’re digging in hard in those situations, but I just rode him out like I was five (lengths) in front. He wasn’t letting her by. It’s quite a feeling.”
Dotted Line was fifth in his debut at five panels over the Woodbine Tapeta on September 14, 5 ¼-lengths back of winner Agnelli (who will also contest the Kingarvie).
In his second start, at 6 ½ panels on the Toronto oval main on September 29, he was fourth, 2 ½-lengths behind Torpedo Max.
The third time proved to be the charm.
Sent on his way at odds of 5-2 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on October 13 at Woodbine, Dotted Line was away fourth but quickly took charge, going on to record a 3 ½-length win in a time of 1:45.39.
On Wednesday, the bay will go for his third straight score.
“He’s an exciting horse,” praised Stein, who won the 2008 Kingarvie with Parabola. “You have to watch him though. He’ll try to kick you. He will do that, for fun. But he’s all class once you’re on his back. I’m really pumped about this race. I think that he can win.”
Attard campaigned Dotted Line’s sire, Signature Red, a multiple graded stakes winning bay son of Bernstein. Also owned by Norseman Stable, Signature Red, bred in Kentucky by Gary Tussey, went 6-6-7 in 27 starts.
Jockey Luis Contreras has won four editions of the Kingarvie, including three consecutive runnings (Amis Gizmo, 2015; Jurojin, 2016; Silent Sting, 2017). His other win came in 2011 with Run in Aruba. He’ll partner Truebelieve this time. Thoroughbred owner and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Conn Smythe took the first running of the race, in 1975, with Raising Men.
Last year, Emma-Jayne Wilson partnered Dun Drum to victory in a time of 1:46.19.
The Kingarvie is carded as race six on Wednesday’s eight-race program. First post is 6:45 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action through HPIBet.com.
$100,000 Kingarvie Stakes
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Lakeside Park – Patrick Husbands – Mike Mattine
2 – Agnelli – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Renee Kierans
3 – The Reign Man – David Moran – Michael De Paulo
4 – Dotted Line – Justin Stein – Sid Attard
5 – Truebelieve – Luis Contreras – Chetram Mohabir
6 – Baddest Blues – Kazushi Kimura – Nicholas Gonzalez
7 – Artiesattheparty – Rafael Hernandez – Ricky Griffith
8 – Dancers Ghost – Christopher Husbands – Phillip Gracey
