Forster swoops in with a pair

CALGARY, Alberta - The $50,000 Duchess of York headlines Saturday's card at Stampede Park, and Vancouver-based trainer Dave Forster saddles two of the four older fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile test.

Forster successfully invaded Alberta three weeks ago to capture both the Teeworth Plate and Ken Pearson Memorial, and his entry of Socorro County and Gold Accent will be heavily favored to keep his local stakes streak alive.

Forster has enlisted leading jockey Quincy Welch to ride Socorro County (117 pounds) and Rickey Walcott, second to Welch in the local standings, to handle Gold Accent (115).

Socorro County, who has a pair of stakes victories, runs from off the pace, while Gold Accent looks to be the early pacesetter. The entry poses a formidable challenge for local contender A Shaky Start, who endured a troubled trip in the Pearson Memorial.

Forster won that one-mile handicap with Summer Symphony, who took the overland route under Welch and won very handily. Leanne Painter found herself in tight quarters with A Shaky Start through the final turn and bumped Unforgettable Two twice turning for home, resulting in her disqualification from second to third place.

A Shaky Start, a 5-year-old who was champion of her division here last year, breaks from post 2 under top weight of 121 pounds.

A Shaky Start has shown the ability to rebound in the past and likely inherits the job of chasing Gold Accent.