Playing the $5 All-Stakes Pick 3 at Woodbine on Saturday

A trio of graded stakes tilts will be hosted by Woodbine on Saturday, and I will aim for the special $5 Pick 3 wager connecting the three featured contests on the card.

Race 6 Wager

• $5 Pick 3: 5 with 1,4,6,7 with 2,3 ($40)

Race 6 – Belle Mahone (G3)

Fillies and mares will run 1 1/16 miles on the main oval in the opening leg, and I will single #5 Elysian Field (8-5) to commence the play. One of two in the cast for trainer Mark Casse, the Hard Spun mare is a multiple graded stakes winner on the course and appears to be training well in advance of her return. The stout late runner landed in a field with ample pace signed on and should get a good trip beneath Pietro Moran. 

Race 7 – Eclipse (G2)

The boys will run 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, and a talented cast has been assembled. #4 Jokestar (2-1) has a current form edge on many of his foes, and the gelding ran very well in his last two local appearances, as well. The bay son of Practical Joke moves back to the surface after registering a pair of big runs on the dirt as of late against some nice ones. The Ontario-bred might want more distance to shine, but he’s too sharp right now to omit. 

I’ll include three additional runners in what I feel is a deep contest. #1 Stanley House (10-1) didn’t fire in his 2026 debut when trying blinkers, and the hood comes off for his second run of the campaign. The dark bay son of Army Mule has endured good local success in the past and will get the jump on the closing types turning for home. Stidham’s #6 Maycocks Bay (5-2) has big early speed and a bit of class, and the Godolphin homebred might thrive in his first run on a synthetic surface. Canadian Classic winner #7 Runaway Again (8-1) is a two-time winner on the course, lightly raced with room for improvement. Ryan Munger will ride for Sid Attard. 

Race 9 – Jacques Cartier (G3)

A six-furlong dash on the synthetic will close the play, and a well-matched group will vie in the affair. I’ll tab a pair of longshot contenders in the final piece of the wager with #2 Western Whirl (10-1) and #3 Its Bourbon Thirty (10-1). The former displayed excellent early speed last season on this surface and the turf, too, and the Stuart Simon pupil will run with blinkers off for his seasonal debut. The Twirling Candy gelding will still be involved early with regular pilot Fraser Aebly in the silks. 

Its Bourbon Thirty missed by a head in the Forego S. on the all-weather at Turfway Park three back and will relish the return to a similar type of surface after running in graded events on the green in his last two tries. Luan Machado is in town to ride.