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Nipissing returns to Woodbine for Selene Chiefswood Stable homebred Nipissing, undefeated through four starts as a juvenile at Woodbine, makes her homecoming in Sunday's Grade 3, C$150,000 Selene back at that Toronto track. Trained by Rachel Halden, the bay daughter of Niigon was a force to be reckoned with in 2012 winning all four starts, including stakes scores in the Princess Elizabeth and South Ocean, by a combined 10 lengths under regular rider Steve Bahen. Nipissing wintered in Florida at Palm Meadows and made her three-year-old debut on April 6 in the Ashland, finishing a solid sixth behind runaway winner Emollient. Halden has breezed the long-striding filly four times since returning to Woodbine preparing for the 1 1/6-mile Polytrack affair. "She's in great shape. I'm really happy with her coming up to this race," Halden said. "She's a special filly. There's no question. She does everything so easy." Despite being defeated 11 1/2-lengths in the Ashland, it's worth noting that Emollient won the prestigious race by nine lengths over Tuttipaesi. Only a nose, a neck, a length and another neck separated the fillies that finished third through seventh. "I thought it was a very solid effort," Halden noted. "In an ideal world, I wouldn't come back in a Grade 1 off a layoff, but she'd run through all her conditions as a two-year-old and I was limited in where I could run her. The Ashland was on her proven surface and distance, so it was hard not to do it when I needed to get a race into her." Based on the sharp works since returning to Woodbine, including a bullet five-eighths effort in 1:00 2/5 on May 7, it appears that Nipissing is relishing her return to Woodbine's Polytrack. "It was a tough race but she's come out of it very well and moved forward off the race," said Halden. "She's worked very strong here and I feel good about where she's at going into this race. She'd always thrown solid works here last year and she's doing the same this year." The long term goal for Nipissing is the C$500,000 Woodbine Oaks on June 9, though a try at the $1 million Queen's Plate on July 7 isn't out of the question. Halden believes Nipissing will only get better the farther she goes. "This filly, she just acts like she wants to go further anyway. She gallops out strong and always seems to be looking for more ground," Halden explained. "The good thing about this filly is that in the afternoon she will relax and she's very rateable." Nipissing has hooked a tough field in her homecoming that includes Grade 2 victress Spring Venture and a host of well-bred fillies on the improve. Last out, Spring Venture finished a non-threatening eighth in the Ashland. Patrick Husbands has the call aboard the Mark Casse trainee for the Selene. Both Nipissing and Spring Venture will carry 124 pounds on Sunday, while the remainder of the eight-horse field carries 117 pounds. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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