For his first three starts of his young career, DOTTED LINE was racing for $40,000 claiming. There were not takers even as the 2-year-old bay gelding was showing improving form from his first two starts. He won his maiden on Oct. 13 at 1 1/16 miles with Eurico da Silva on board and still there were no claims submitted.
On Nov. 9, Dotted Line (Signature Red – Springledge by Outflanker) posted a huge upset in the $100,00 Frost King Stakes for his owner and breeder Howard Walton of Norseman Racing Stable and trainer Sid Atard. Justin Stein gave the gelding a shrewd ride up the firm rail path to win in 1:22.25 for 7 furlongs.
With a confident steer from Stein, Dotted Line burst onto the scene in the stretch off a ground-saving trip and out-finished Artie’s Princess, who had been boiled in a wild pace battle with another speedster, Rockcrest. The pair fought to the wire with Dotted Line getting the edge by a neck and post a $100.40 win payout. Torpedo Max held the slight advantage over Crafty Conquest in a photo for show, finishing more than six lengths behind the top pair.
“He gave me a lot of confidence in the morning; he was really impressive,” said Stein. “Sid wanted me to ride him with confidence and he proved himself for us today.
“When he burst through the hole just inside the quarter pole there and hooked up with that horse, he was digging in and giving me everything he had. He was in his own horse race against that filly and he didn’t want to let her by.”
Now proven in stakes competition, the homebred gelding has one more race on his radar before the season is over.
“He wants to go further too,” added Norseman Racing Stable’s Howard Walton. “I guess the next one will be the Coronation [Futurity].”
On a bitterly cold afternoon over a fast Tapeta that favoured horses inside and staying close to the pace, there were a lot of multiple wins by horsepeople. Da Silva, who rode Forester’s Turn in the Frost King won 4 races as he continues to power his way to retirement at season’s end while KAZUSHI KIMURA in his first few weeks of being a journeyman rider, won 3 races and is chasing Rafael Hernandez for second spot on the rider’s list.
MARK CASSE won three races, ROBERT TILLER, closing in on 2000 career wins (he is 5 away) won 2.
MARTIN DREXLER won his 400th career race with Belle danseuse in race 2.
~ with files from Woodbine Communications
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