Canines Vie Doggedly for Frisbee Prize

Doggone. Soaring Sam snatched the Friskies Canine Frisbee Disc World Championship out of the air again.

Owen Boy, the local favorite from Anaheim, ended up, well, as the underdog.

The saucy border collie’s leaps, spins and grabs earned him and owner Pon Saradeth 12th place in the 21st annual world finals in Washington.

It was not the finish Saradeth, a hairstylist, had hoped for, but this was the 3-year-old Owen Boy’s first visit to the big time.

Soaring Sam, an 8-year-old Australian cattle dog mix, and his owner, Gary Suzuki of Covina, have appeared at the finals five times, winning it the past three.

For this year’s victory, Soaring Sam and Suzuki grabbed a $1,000 savings bond and a year’s supply of Friskies dog food. Second and third place in the 14-dog contest, held on the Washington Monument grounds, went to Lourdes Edlin of Miami and his dog, Cisco, and Ray Masel of Stockton and Skyy Dog.

Saradeth, 33, and Owen Boy, who were inspired to compete after watching the success of Soaring Sam, had practiced 45 to 90 minutes a day to prepare for the competition. The dogs are judged on showmanship, leaping ability, degree of difficulty and execution.

For Owen Boy, there’s always next year, because, as everyone knows, every dog has its day.