Dotted Line defies long odds in Frost King Stakes

TORONTO, ON – Overlooked by the betting public and let go at long odds of 49-1, Norseman Racing Stable’s two-year-old gelding Dotted Line defeated the popular filly Artie’s Princess in the $100,000 Frost King Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack.

With a confident steer from jockey Justin Stein, Dotted Line burst onto the scene in the stretch off a ground-saving trip and out-finished Artie’s Princess, who had taken the lead from front-runner Rockcrest at the top of the stretch in the seven-furlong stakes event for Ontario-sired two-year-olds.

The Sid Attard trainee, who stopped the clock in 1:22.25, prevailed by a neck over the even-money favourite to yield 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.”

Dotted Line made his stakes debut in the Frost King a winning one following a maiden-breaking victory in his third career start on October 13 at Woodbine.

Now proven in stakes competition, the homebred Signature Red-Springledge gelding has one more race on his radar before the season is over.

“We always liked this horse. He’s a solid, strong horse,” said Attard, who also trained the up-and-comer’s multiple graded stakes-winning sire and full brother Signature Spring, winner of the Colin Stakes at two.

“He wants to go further too,” added Norseman Racing Stable’s Howard Walton. “I guess the next one will be the Coronation [Futurity].”