The four-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe finished a half-length in front of two-time champion older male to give trainer Nick Gonzalez his sixth stakes win of the season at the Toronto oval.
Artie Hot, who is owned by Tucci Stables, settled into a stalking position at the rail and bided his time behind the tepid, but contested pace (:24.62 and :48.51) established by True Metropolitan and Jiggs Coz.
Mid-way through the second turn, the gelding angled inside a tired Jiggs Coz and maintained his position on the rail as he continued to advance, into the stretch. With quick strides, Artie Hot began to reel in True Metropolitan and drew even with the star Terry Jordan pupil inside the final furlong.
Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson said winding up in a stretch tussle to the inside of 18-time winner True Metroplitan wasn't her first choice of trips.
"The opportunities were where they were and I didn't have much of a choice," said Wilson. "When True Metropolitan did move off the fence, I figured this was my opportunity to get a jump on him and get moving.
"Ideally, I didn't want to get stuck on the inside of True Metropilitan - to be at his mercy down on the rail," added Wilson. "He looked Artie Hot in the eye. It was a battle of wills. Artie did what he does best. He stuck his nose out in front when it mattered."
Assistant trainer Martha Gonzalez said surface and fitness made all the difference for Artie Hot.
"Artie is a much better Polytrack horse than turf horse. Through lack of races, we had to run him on the turf. As you see, he's happy to be back on his own surface," said Gonzalez. "He's finally been able to get two and three races together. Previously, we were only able to run him once a month or once every five weeks. Now, he's fit and ready and in good order."
Now a five-time winner from 27 starts, Artie Hot increased his earnings to $343,562. The Kentucky-bred is now a two-time stakes winner, having captured the Ontario Derby last September.
The Gonzalez stable is now one Woodbine stakes win away from equaling its total for the entire 2007 meet.
Artie Hot returned $23.20, $7.40 and $5.10, combining with True Metropolitan ($2.60, $2.30) for an exactor worth $81.80. Palladio ($6.50) rounded out a $739 triactor.