Saturday’s stakes-spangled card at Woodbine gets extra juice with a $3,000 Exacta-Thon promotion when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Take down winning exactas ($2 minimum) in 5 of the 10 races on the program to rake in your share of the bonus cash. Three stakes share the playbill Saturday in greater Toronto and I’ll lean into those for some Exacta-Thon assistance.

Race 6: Grade 3 $150,000 Belle Mahone Stakes
Seven elder fillies and mares match up over 1-1/16 miles on the Tapeta. Note that #6 Stylish Sue is cross-entered Saturday in Churchill Downs’ Mint Julep Stakes. Three of these will be making their first starts of 2026, and none of those have displayed past success off this kind of break to open the season. The horses with ’26 experience include #2 Equitas, #3 Deloraine, #4 Power of Destiny and the aforementioned #6 Stylish Sue if she makes the trip. #2 Equitas had a mistimed move on the Keeneland turf but still got a field-best, last-out 94 BRIS late pace figure that could be quite handy in a race with a fair amount of pace and horses potentially lacking foundation. Exacta key-box 2 with 4,6. Swap #5 Elysian Field for Stylish Sue in the event of a scratch.

Race 7: Grade 2 $175,000 Eclipse Stakes
The local handicap division gets its first major test of 2026 with this 1-1/16 miles test on the main track. Seven entered, including last year’s Prince of Wales Stakes classic winner #7 Runaway Again. But it’s first-time Woodbine visitor #6 Maycocks Bay who figures to be the one to catch. Godolphin’s front-running Speightstown gelding tries synthetic for the first time after plying his trade on dirt and turf at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and Keeneland of late. He looks to be potential lone speed, which is always dangerous in a smaller field size like this. #4 Jokestar has been better on dirt than synthetic, but the Kevin Attard trainee is in good form right now after stakes bids at Laurel and Oaklawn. #1 Stanley House makes an old-school sprint-to-route move while second off the layoff and could fire an improved effort. Exacta key-box 6 with 4,1.

Race 9: Grade 3 $150,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes
I’m inclined to think #2 Western Whirl could very well wire this 6-furlong sprint. The 5-year-old comes off a November layoff but note he ran one of the fastest races of his life in victory here last June off a similar break. Trainer Stuart Simon hasn’t been off to a good start in limited tries this season, and there appears to be a missed workout May 8, so that’s where caution kicks in. Let’s back-wheel him second behind a few logical players. #4 G T Five Hundred has been in strong form throughout winter and spring, while #5 Possiblemente can say the same via Kentucky and #6 Playmea Tune should welcome the return to Woodbine from Florida. Exacta 4,5,6 over 2. At the right win price (5-1 or more), some action with Western Whirl on top wouldn’t be a bad play intra-race.