Quiet Queen back on Canterbury turf

Quiet Queen returns to the scene of the crime when she faces 11 filly and mare rivals in the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile on the turf at Canterbury Park.

Quiet Queen pulled a shocker when she captured last season's Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup Stakes by a neck at 30-1. Trained by David Kassen, Quiet Queen was given a winter layoff and has started three times this season. Following a nonthreatening effort in the South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream, Quiet Queen shipped to her Arlington base where she finished sixth in the Reluctant Guest Stakes, which was transferred to the main track. Tried next in the five-furlong Nicole's Dream Stakes, Quiet Queen made a late move to finish fourth in a performance that should set her up nicely for the HBPA Mile.

Also shipping from Arlington is the Reluctant Guest winner, Mizzcan'tbewrong, who was claimed last fall by trainer Richie Scherer. A front-running type, Mizzcan'tbewrong was beaten by a neck when finishing fifth in the Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds in December. Mizzcan'tbewrong was rated off the pace in her second-place finish in the Bayou Handicap at Fair Grounds, suggesting that option is available to jockey Paul Nolan on Saturday.

The race has a number of front-running and pace-pressing types, which could benefit Si Si Mon Amie. A winner of the Firecracker Stakes at Mountaineer last year, Si Si Mon Amie returned to Mountaineer to kick off her 2009 campaign by finishing a fast-closing third in the Decoration Day Handicap, beaten a half-length.

Trainer Mac Robertson entered Fabulous Babe in the HBPA Mile. Scott Stevens has the call on the filly, who finished a close second in last year's Northbound Pride Stakes at one mile on the Canterbury turf.