Rich Meadow Stable and Alan Burkhard's 4-year-old Slew Valley is likely to invade Calder from Maryland for a return to competition in the $100,000 Tropical Park Turf Handicap (gr. III) next Saturday (Dec. 8)."We plan on coming," said trainer Michael Dickinson Thursday from his Tapeta Farm training center in North East, Md. "He'll work here on Saturday and be flown down next week if everything goes all right."A Maryland-bred of Valley Crossing, Slew Valley was entered in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Sat., Oct. 27, but was scratched the morning of the race after he coughed when coming back from an early morning canter at Tapeta.His last start was an unplaced finish in the Canadian International (gr. I) at Woodbine on Sept. 30, but he had turned in three solid performances in top class stakes prior to that. In the Bowling Green Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont on July 7 he just missed by a half-length when second to King Cugat.Next was the Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. I) at Saratoga and he finished third, beaten only two lengths for it all by With Anticipation. Then came a another good effort in the Atto Mile (gr. I) at Woodbine when he finished fifth, but was beaten only 1 ½ lengths for it all by undefeated Numerous Times.Rich Meadow Farm owner James Hindman bred Slew Valley and sold an interest in him to Burkhard after he won his turf course debut at Belmont in July, 2000 for trainer Gary Sciacca. He was then placed with Dickinson and ran only once more last year, finishing unplaced in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. I) at Arlington Park.
Dickinson is best known for his work with Da Hoss, winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) in 1996 and 1998.
