This time, Cagey Dee will be bet

EDMONTON, Alberta - Cagey Dee appears ready to finally earn some respect from the bettors when she faces seven other 2-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Bird of Pay here at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Cagey Dee, bred in Alberta by her owner, Glen Stouffer, made her debut going 3 1/2 furlongs against maiden special weight types in late June and prevailed by three-quarters of a length at better than 19-1. Trainer Rod Haynes chose not to run Cagey Dee in July, and she made her second start in the six-furlong Princess Margaret here Aug. 5. What very few backers Cagey Dee had that day profited nicely from her performance, as she once again came home three-quarters of a length on top, this time at odds of nearly 35-1.

Jockey Ron Blinston, who has been with Cagey Dee every step of the way, looks to make her a perfect 3 for 3 in Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong Bird of Pay.

If Cagey Dee does not go favored, then that role may fall to Dawn of Fame, who races for True North Stable.

Trained by the red-hot Bruce Phelan, who has won 31 percent of his races at the meeting, Dawn of Fame has yet to test stakes-caliber fillies but was most impressive when she raced for a $27,500 tag last time out. Pressing the pace early, Dawn of Fame took over at the half and drew off to win by 11 lengths. Dawn of Fame covered the six furlongs on the deep Northlands Park surface in 1:13.40.