Saturday’s Woodbine Mile Day card features a mandatory payout in the pick 6 as well as the super hi 5. The 12-race card gets underway at 1:05 pm ET with the 20-cent pick 6 sequence beginning with Race 7 at 4:27 pm ET. The super hi 5 will be up for grabs in Race 12 at 7:12 pm ET.

Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet are encouraged to take part in the $3,000 Exacta-Thon promotion throughout Saturday’s Woodbine card. Successfully hit exactas ($2 minimum) in at least 5 races and win your share of bonus cash to your pari-mutuel winnings.

Here’s a look at the pick 6 races.

Race 7: Grade 3 Ontario Matron
The most competitive race in terms of number of quality options is this 1-1/16 miles Tapeta heat. I’ll spread to accommodate. The favorites #10 Caitlinhergrtness and #4 Wild Pansy are Kevin Attard trainees with question marks about current form but races clearly good enough to win this upon their best. #3 Avenue Neil intrigues most at 10-1 morning line, drawn beautifully and she’s been a different mare racing with Lasix vs. without. She gets it Saturday. #6 Literate has split decisions with Caitlinhergrtness, #8 Johanny should be finishing well under a resurgent Frankie Dettori, #9 Five Towns made a premature move in last year’s only local appearance and returns from the States with John Velazquez this time and #11 Hurricane Clair has dangerous early foot at a big 20-1 ML price.

Race 8: Grade 1 Natalma
#6 Hot Mash dazzled in her debut at Ellis Park sprinting and the Not This Time filly should love the mile trip. She’s the play and should be the value, but facing a promising Chad Brown debut winner #10 Deep Learning will be quite a task to fend off late. #5 Dance to the Music has won both in England for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, but hasn’t overwhelmed and the North Americans typically hold up well enough in this race and Breeders’ Cup division. If needed to trim for budget, settle on Hot Mash and Deep Learning, otherwise include Dance to the Music as well.

Race 9: Grade 1 Woodbine Mile
In what’s not a historically strong group of North American milers, #2 Notable Speech should run roughshod over this bunch via Europe. His head runner-up in France’s premier mile race, the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, just lays over this cast, not to mention his English 2000 Guineas and Sussex wins last year before coming to Del Mar and narrowly finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. South African #3 One Stripe is an X-factor for a Graham Motion barn that won last week’s Grade 2 Mabee at Del Mar with another export from that country. But he’s facing a tough hombre in Notable Speech, who is a single for me.

Race 10: Grade 3 Vigil
The locals exiting the Bold Venture couldn’t warm up #2 Simcoe last out and, if he holds his form, the new faces in this cast also are likely in trouble. Simcoe has been first or second in 8 straight races over the main track sprinting and was freakishly best of his career last out. Turfer Cruden Bay will take, but doesn’t sprint on the main track and has to beat Simcoe at his game. Monmouth-based Horsepower beat Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals on the synthetic at Presque Isle and could factor, but 7 furlongs looks beyond his best trip. This is another solid single of Simcoe.

Race 11: allowance/optional claiming
Morning line favorite Poissiblemente is suspect at 1-1/8 mies, picking up weight and coming off a 2-month break. I’ll lean heavily into #4 Pierre, a 4-year-old who seems to be rounding back into the promising form that opened his career. #2 Fly the W is a veteran synthetic maven who will be finishing well with a ground-saving trip.

Race 12: allowance/optional claiming
Top pick #2 Awesome Bourbon should be in the hunt from the opening bell with inside speed, as will #3 Niagara Skyline on the stretch-out in trip. Both are threats, particularly if the other doesn’t break. #5 La Macazza fits well at this class level for high-percentage connections. #6 Jayhawk had a promising return from a long layoff, but is unknown on the lawn. Capable perhaps, but not at a short price for intra-race betting. #8 Malibu Mambo at 8-1 ML intrigues for a Michael Doyle barn that’s going very well the past month.

Suggested Ticket
3,9,10,4,6,8,11 with 6,10,5 with 2 with 2 with 4,2 with 2,3,8,5,6 = $42 for 20 cents