Woodbine: Slew Valley rallies late

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Slew Valley ($10.60) wore down Shoal Water in deep stretch to record a mild upset in the Grade 2, $324,300 .

Wando, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2003, came up flat as the 3-5 favorite in the nine-furlong turf event, finishing fourth after setting the pace.

Shoal Water pressed Wando along the inside all the way and went by him inside the eighth pole, but Slew Valley came on in the final sixteenth to prevail by a neck.

Surging River nailed Wando on the wire for third and finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Shoal Water. Remind, a New York invader, completed the order of finish. The final time over a yielding course was 1:48.42 seconds.

"This horse settled so well, and we had a garden trip, with decent speed in front of us," said Jim McAleney, who rode Slew Valley for trainer Reade Baker.

Slew Valley banked $194,580 while winning his second consecutive Woodbine stakes.