Local champ has her work cut out

CALGARY, Alberta - Kaylee's Magic, Alberta's 2005 horse of the year last year after winning three stakes and narrowly missing a fourth, faces perhaps her most stern test in the form of invader Bond Queen in the $50,000 Mount Royal here at Stampede Park on Sunday.

Kaylee's Magic is the 121-pound highweight in the field of six 3-year-old fillies. She concedes one pound to Bond Queen, who arrives fresh off a front-running tally in the 6 1/2-furlong Supernaturel on April 22 at Hastings.

Despite the sterling credentials Kaylee's Magic brings to the race, including a steady work tab for trainer Greg Tracy, it is Bond Queen who is expected to be favored.

Kaylee's Magic comes into the Mount Royal without benefit of a prep and is facing a dead-fit rival. Bond Queen has a solid winter campaign under her belt, and her form suggests she is the one to catch.

Leading rider Quincy Welch, who had options, chose to ride Bond Queen, a Florida-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic. Vancouver-based trainer Terry Jordan saddles Bond Queen, who drew post 2.

Kaylee's Magic, an Alberta-bred, breaks from post 5 with Stephen Heiler in the irons for the first time.

Sassy Sarah and Mia Cat Dancer both won allowance preps at this meet with Welch aboard. Sassy Sarah breaks from post 4 with Chris McGregor up and Mia Cat Dancer is just to her inside with Desmond Bryan aboard.

Awesome Deal, winner of the one-mile Freedom of the City last October, has the rail with Rickey Walcott up, and Tartan Star, who upset Kaylee's Magic in the Filly Sales Stakes last August, drew the outside with Real Simard aboard.