Woodbine Mohawk Park: Slay overcomes miscue to upset in Canadian Trotting Classic

The breaks didn't go well for everyone in Saturday's $615,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but race winner Slay got the benefit of the doubt, as the judges let him stand following a dramatic comeback in the stretch that saw him overtake pace-setter Pretender in the shadow of the wire.

Slay was one of the fastest at the outset, as driver Joe Bongiorno got the Chapter Seven-sired colt on the front before the first turn and then allowed Pretender to cross to command at the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Also leaving the gate was odds-on favorite Branded By Lindy and driver Yannick Gingras, and they tucked in behind King Of The North well before the quarter.

Andrew McCarthy and Pretender had full control and hit the half in 56 3/5 while awaiting company. Mark MacDonald provided the company, as he energized King Of The North. Branded By Lindy picked up the cover but would soon break stride and lose all chance, spoiling the second-over trip.

With King Of The North on the flank of Pretender and Slay sitting directly behind the pace-setter, the field passed three quarters in 1:23 3/5, but shortly thereafter Slay miscued. Bongiorno lost ground with Slay and was able to see the Tony Alagna-trained colt quickly reset.

The battle in the final eighth was at hand, as Pretender dug in bravely and was holding off a slew of rivals, but Bongiorno was working hard behind Slay, and there was ample room along the plyons for Slay to make up the margin and go past the leader, stopping the clock in a 1:52 1/5 mile. Pretender held firmly for second, with Fast As The Wind living up to his name with a solid close from well back for third.

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Crawford Farms and James Crawford co-own Slay, a full brother to last year's Canadian Trotting Classic champion Ahundreddollarbill, also trained by Alagna. As an 8-1 offering, Slay returned $18.60.

"He caught a boot," said Bongiorno of the incident.

"I was as shocked as anybody," said Alagna, following the race, of the break in stride by the usually-reliable colt who campaigned extensively on the New York Sire Stakes circuit this year.

"They're both going to The Red Mile," Alagna added of the winner and third-place finisher, with the Kentucky Futurity a likely next race.