Post, weight may hurt Jumron

AUBURN, Wash. ? Jumron Won will have to break from the outside when he heads a field of nine 3-year-olds in Sunday's 1 1/16-mile, $40,000 Tacoma Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Jumron Won will undoubtedly be favored off his sterling record of six stakes wins from nine starts at Emerald, including victories in all three of his starts at the current meeting. He is staring at a wide trip under a highweight package of 123 pounds, however, and he suddenly appears to be vulnerable.

Among those hoping to take advantage of Jumron Won's predicament are the Jim Penney-trained duo of Jade Green and Sabertooth, who will race uncoupled due to separate ownership. Jade Green nearly pulled off an upset in the July 1 Seattle Slew Handicap at a mile, as he closed strongly to get within a half length of Jumron Won at odds of 6-1. He figures to appreciate the added sixteenth.

Sabertooth is the perfect complement to his late-running stablemate, as he seems sure to be out winging on the lead. He has won three of his four sprints, including a wire-to-wire victory over allowance rivals with 6 1/2 furlongs in a nifty 1:14.60 last time out on June 24. He has very little competition for the lead on Sunday and will have every opportunity to set comfortable fractions.

Also a threat is Canadian invader Diglett, who has won 4 of 8 starts, including a pair of stakes at Hastings Park. Diglett proved he could handle the local surface last year when he ran a creditable second to Dr. Slew in the WTBA Lads Stakes, finishing a neck in front of Jumron Won.