Stakes filly won't be a big price this time

EDMONTON, Alberta - Dixietwostepper has tested the top fillies and mares on the grounds at Northlands Park in her last four starts. And, while she has performed commendably by finishing either second or third in three of those races, her odds have remained well into double digits.

In Sunday's featured race here, Dixietwostepper drops into an optional claimer, and her odds can be expected to plunge as well.

When she first ventured into the upper stratum of competition in the Wild Rose Stakes, Dixietwostepper shocked bettors, when she finished second at 35-1, ahead of the highly regarded She's Italian. Dixietwostepper then took a step backward, finishing sixth at 20-1 in the John Patrick, but rebounded with a third in the Madamoiselle at 27-1.

Even off that third-place finish, bettors here refused to give the 4-year-old filly much respect, so Dixietwostepper surprised them again when, as a 15-1 longshot, she took third in the $100,000 Edmonton Distaff.

In Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong feature, Dixietwostepper no longer faces superior talent such as Monashee, She's Italian, and Montero. None of her rivals has any stakes experience this year, so bettors should anticipate a short price on Dixietwostepper.

* The Northlands meeting is heading into its final week and will wind up next Sunday. Alberta Fall Classic Day, with seven stakes races for Alberta-breds, will be run Saturday.