Whether it’s the run up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands or the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, there’s great racing action nearly every weekend of the year. Starting this year, America’s Best Racing is challenging some of the brightest minds in horse betting to come up with their top three picks for key races leading up to the Derby and the Breeders’ Cup.

This week the focus shifts to the Triple Crown trail as three Road to the Kentucky Derby points races take center stage. The $250,000 Withers Stakes in New York, the $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes in South Florida and the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in Southern California offer coast-to-coast action on the Derby trail. TVG will televise all three races with the Robert B. Lewis scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, the Withers scheduled for 4:20 p.m. ET and, the Holy Bull slated for 5:35 p.m. ET.

The players' picks will be posted here and a running bankroll will be kept to track their success all year long. Bankrolls will be tabulated on the basis of a $2 win bet on top selections and $2 exacta and $2 trifecta box bets of each player’s top three selections. Your players are Eric Bialek, Acacia Courtney, C.J. Johnsen, Bryan Simpkins and Dan Tordjman.

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Eric Bialek (VIEW BIO)

National Handicapping Championship Qualifier

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Sheer Flattery

2. Royal Mo

3. Irap

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. El Areeb

2. J Boys Echo

3. True Timber

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes

1. Classic Empire

2. Irish War Cry

3. Gunnevera

Top Selection Winners: 0/1

Exacta Winnings: $33.80

Trifecta Winnings: $0 

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Acacia Courtney (VIEW BIO)

TV Analyst/Host for Gulfstream Park

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Dangerfield

2. Royal Mo

3. Sheer Flattery

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. J Boys Echo

2. El Areeb

3. Apartfromthecrowd

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes

1. Classic Empire

2. Irish War Cry

3. Gunnevera

Top Selection Winners: 1/1

Exacta Winnings: $33.80

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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C.J. Johnsen (VIEW BIO)

Director of Wagering for Kentucky Downs 

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Sheer Flattery

2. Irap

3. Royal Mo

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Apartfromthecrowd

2. J Boys Echo

3. El Areeb

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes

1. Classic Empire

2. Fact Finding

3. Gunnevera

Top Selection Winners: 0/1

Exacta Winnings: $33.80

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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Bryan Simpkins (VIEW BIO)

Handicapper and Writer for Danonymous Racing

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Irap

2. Sheer Flattery

3. Term of Art

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. El Areeb

2. J Boys Echo

3. Apartfromthecrowd

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes

1. Classic Empire

2. Cavil

3. Fact Finding

Top Selection Winners: 1/1

Exacta Winnings: $0

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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Dan Tordjman (VIEW BIO)

Video Correspondent, Handicapper and Writer for  America's Best Racing

Note: Weekly selections made using STATS Race Lens

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Irap

2. Royal Mo

3. Sheer Flattery

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. El Areeb

2. Apartfromthecrowd

3. Square Shooter

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes

1. Cavil

2. Classic Empire

3. Gunnevera

Top Selection Winners: 1/1

Exacta Winnings: $0

Trifecta Winnings: $0