Deputy Fudge drops for tag

EDMONTON, Alberta - Deputy Fudge is dropping from a third-place finish against allowance company to take on four others for a $30,000 tag here Sunday, the final day of the 2006 Northlands Park meeting.

After an inauspicious early season campaign in which the 6-year-old managed to light the board only once in five starts, Deputy Fudge found his form in August and strung together a three-race winning streak that saw him win for a $22,000 tag and twice at the $30,000 level for trainer Wendy Kadar.

Trained by Wendy Kadar, Deputy Fudge had the misfortune of hooking the tough and talented Sparhawk in a one-mile allowance race last out.

Returning to the claiming ranks on Sunday, Deputy Fudge seems to be a peg above his opponents, but the 6 1/2-furlong distance may be a hurdle, as his three wins were all at a mile or more. It will be up to Perry Winters to return Deputy Fudge's owner, Kim Bannister, to the winner's circle.

While shortening up may be a bit of a problem for Deputy Fudge, the same cannot be said of the pacesetting sprinter Saw Grass Sabre, ridden by Rickey Walcott. Trained by Dale Greenwood for the ubiquitous Bear Stables Ltd., Saw Grass Sabre enters Sunday's race off a win going six furlongs against similar company.