The Queen's Stamp set for big effort

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - At the halfway point of the marathon Woodbine meet, fresh horses are starting to have an impact, and The Queen's Stamp might be ready to pop in Wednesday's second race, a $50,000 claimer for fillies and mares on the grass.

The Queen's Stamp, a 7-year-old trained by Darwin Banach, scored just once last year, an eye-catching, come-from-behind tally in a Fort Erie allowance race. She finished fourth in three consecutive $62,500 optional claimers here in the fall before going to the sidelines.

The Queen's Stamp fared okay when she resurfaced from a seven-month layoff in a $50,000 claimer July 19. She was blocked behind rivals early in the stretch of that 6 1/2-furlong sprint and closed for third in her first start under Chantal Sutherland.

On Wednesday, The Queen's Stamp stretches out to seven furlongs, a distance over which she is 2 for 4 on the grass. She is coupled in the Bill Sorokolit-owned entry with Anna's Ballerina, who hasn't competed since last summer.

Bedarra could be the favorite off her narrow loss in a seven-furlong optional claimer on the Polytrack on July 24. She never challenged the time before in the Repercussion Stakes, but managed to dead heat for first with the speedy Miss Razyana in a $62,500 optional claimer on the grass in June.

Jim McAleney will ride Bedarra for trainer Sid Attard, who leads the trainer standings with 33 wins.

She's the Umpire took The Queen's Stamp's comeback race from just off the pace while registering a career-high 82 Beyer Speed Figure. She came up empty 12 days ago in an optional claimer that was won by Miss Razyana.

Morning Prayers figures to lead the way following her gate-to-wire victory in a seven-furlong event for $32,000 claimers July 29 on the Polytrack. She posted mixed results in her three previous outings, all at 6 1/2 furlongs on the lawn.

Gee Pari is jumping up off a heartbreaking loss against $20,000 opposition on the Polytrack. She's a two-time winner on the grass as is Friendly Selection, who rallied to finish second behind Morning Prayers in her latest.

True Jean and Razzdango were both unplaced in their lone turf start.