Dotted Line cuts back, could sit good trip
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sunday’s featured first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option drew a competitive group of 10 and goes as the sixth race on a nine-race card at Woodbine.
Dotted Line was a flat third as the favorite when dropping to $25,000 in his last start, but there are several reasons why he could turn his fortunes around Sunday.
Dotted Line is shortening up from seven to five furlongs, a distance over which he doesn’t need much staying power. After breaking from post 6, he can sit behind the speed or race in midpack before making a bid.
Dotted Line is moving up off a claim by trainer Marty Drexler, a high-percentage angle. Following a slow start to the meet after he enjoyed a successful winter stint at Gulfstream, Drexler has been heating up a little. He has given the call to Sahin Civaci, and they’re a combined 3 for 14 at the meet.
Dotted Line breezed three-eighths in 36.20 seconds a week ago in preparation for his third start of the meet, which could be a peak one. A stakes winner three years ago at 2, he runs for the tag as one of the classier members of the field.
Trainer Robert Tiller entered the front-runners Aim for the Sky and Checkerboard Floor.
Aim for the Sky looks best among them. The 5-year-old is no stranger to filling out the exacta, having done so nine times in 16 starts. He folded most recently but was previously second in back-to-back shorter allowances.
Checkerboard Floor didn’t have the smoothest of trips when 10th in his season debut. The 5-year-old is winless in eight races since beating Ontario-sired allowance types in his final 2020 outing going five furlongs.
Jibaro, Anarchy, and Kawacatoose also possess speed. They drew the three outside posts.
Jibaro notched his May 22 debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden-special before a fading fourth traveling 6 1/2 furlongs a month later.
Anarchy beat $40,000 maidens and nonwinners-of-two types at this meet, races that sandwiched a 24-length drubbing in an open allowance.
Kawacatoose could have a stalking trip from post 10. He won his first two starts at the meet going 5 1/2 furlongs before a good second in his first try at this level traveling six furlongs.
Western Trouble breaks from the rail and could pick up some of the pieces in his fourth start off the bench. After finishing a lapped-on second in his penultimate race for $25,000, he finished sixth behind Kawacatoose at this level.
Celebratory failed to take advantage of a perfect stalking trip last time out when fourth behind Kawacatoose.
Happymac crushed $25,000 conditioned rivals two back on the dirt at Oaklawn before coming up empty here in a conditioned allowance on the Tapeta.
Fielder is eligible to rebound off a poor showing on the inner turf while dropping for his second start off a $25,000 claim.