Woodbine’s track maintenance crew will be working hard to removed snow and ice from the main Tapeta track Monday after more snow fell overnight following a very icy day Sunday. Racing was cancelled Sunday and all 11 races from that card are offered as carryovers from Friday, which will be drawn Tuesday. The main track and sand ring were closed for training Monday morning.
As December rolls in like as a feisty snowman there is stakes action to look forward to for the next day of racing, Wednesday night. The 45th KINGARVIE STAKES for Ontario sired 2-year-olds will go at 1 1/16 miles as race 6 on the 8-race card.
The Kingarvie is named for the Horse of the Year of 1946 who won the Queen’s Plate in a 10-race winning streak. He was owned and bred by Col. R.S. McLaughlin.
This year’s Kingarvie has a field of eight with six winners and one of those, DOTTED LINE is a stakes winner.
Owned by Norseman Racing and trained by Sid Attard, the Signature Red 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 for $40,000 claiming 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. His 81 Beyer Speed Figure easily tops the field Wednesday and he is even-money in the morning line odds.
Johnny-Dewhurst-aboard-Kingarvie- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
$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
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