McDougall has two good shots

CALGARY, Alberta - Trainer Pam McDougall deals from a strong hand in Friday's feature for fillies and mares here at Stampede Park.

McDougall saddles the uncoupled pair of Dixietwostepper and Fanning for Gold in the first-level half-mile allowance, which runs as the seventh race on the eight-race program.

The pair of 4-year-old fillies campaigned last summer at Woodbine, with Dixietwostepper notching her maiden tally last May in a special weight route and subsequently putting forth some good tries in allowance company.

Dixietwostepper is the more accomplished of McDougall's duo and sports solid works for her Alberta debut, including a pair of bullet moves.

Fanning for Gold remains a maiden but did flash speed in a pair of claiming sprints last summer at Woodbine. She drew the outside post in the field of nine with Real Simard up. Leading rider Quincy Welch breaks Dixietwostepper from post 2.

Welch is off to another fast start in defense of his riding title and won seven races in the first three days of this 50-day stand, including a four-bagger on opening night last Friday.

Another interesting candidate here is Miss Spoken, who breaks from post 4 under Leanne Painter.

Miss Spoken was no secret in her only race, which came in the spring of 2005, and rewarded her backers with a front-running tally over 3 1/2 furlongs. Her works for trainer Al Strumecki are solid.