Dark Fuse goes even longer

EDMONTON, Alberta - Double stakes winner Dark Fuse heads a field of seven in Saturday's $40,000 Count Lathum as Northlands Park-based 3-year-olds have their final prep for the Aug. 24 Canadian Derby.

Dark Fuse was regarded as a sprinter when he won the six-furlong President's and the 6 1/2-furlong Western Canada but faltered in the 1 1/16-mile Alberta Derby to finish seventh, beaten nearly nine lengths.

But in his last start, here in the 1 1/16-mile Ky Alta, Dark Fuse surprised the skeptics when he was an impressive runner-up to Lord Shogun.

Trained by Ron Burrell, Dark Fuse will carry top weight of 119 pounds and be ridden by Orlando Martinez as he stretches out to 1 5/16 miles in the Count Lathum.

Intact has been an enigma for trainer Stuart Simon since he won the Hoofprint on My Heart in late May. He finished last as the favorite in the Alberta Derby and fared little better in his only outing since then, running sixth in the Ky Alta.

Thundering Herd, a recent $25,000 claim at Hastings Park, will be making his Northlands debut and should provide the speed from the outside post. He has won for $25,000 and $35,000, and was fourth in his only stakes try, the City of Vancouver.

Go Go Tommy Joe won an allowance at a mile and has been coming from far back as he finished fourth, fifth, and third in stakes in later attempts.

Crescent Remark, one of the province's leading juveniles, should bear watching. He comes off an improved effort in a one-mile allowance.

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