Babbo, Witwatersrand Headline 3YO Woodbine Contests

Three-year-olds share the spotlight June 29 at Woodbine as they run 1 1/16 miles over the synthetic for a $150,000 purse. The boys will contest the Marine Stakes (G3) as race 9 while the fillies go three races earlier in the Selene Stakes (G3).

Lou Tucci's Babbo  saw his three-race win streak snapped when seventh in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes while returning from a 6 1/2-month layoff June 9. However, the start under his belt and a stretch out in distance in the Marine should benefit the son of Kantharos  , who won the Coronation Futurity last November at 1 1/8 miles.

Manfred and Penny Conrad's Essex Serpent  followed his maiden victory with a solid second in the Queenston.

Cheyenne Stable's Native Land  makes his first trip north of the border for trainer Riley Mott after a sixth in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack that followed consecutive victories against non-stakes competition.

Witwatersrand headlines Selene Stakes

Going south for the winter did not work out for Gary Barber's Sovereign Award-winning filly Witwatersrand  as she failed to threaten in two graded attempts.

Returning home to Woodbine is just what the 3-year-old daughter of Connect   needed. In the seven-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes May 18, she closed under mild urging from Patrick Husbands and cruised to a four-length win.

The filly has shown an affinity for Woodbine with a 3-for-4 record that includes victory in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) last November. Husbands returns to ride the filly in the Selene, as he has done in all her Canadian starts.