Horse racing’s second season – the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and the run up to the world championships of horse racing at Del Mar on Nov. 4 and 5 – is underway! That means there’s great racing action nearly every weekend from here on out. 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 Breeders’ Cup.

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.

For this week, the featured races are the the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint; the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; and the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Eric Bialek (VIEW BIO)

National Handicapping Championship Qualifier

Vosburgh Stakes

1. Stallwalkin’ Dude

2. El Deal

3 . Takaful

Alternate: Mr. Crow

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Mekhtaal

2. Oscar Performance

3. Sadler’s Joy

Alternate: Beach Patrol

Awesome Again Stakes

1. Cupid

2. Mubtaahij

3. Midnight Storm

Top Selection Winners: 7/18

Exacta Winnings: $143.40

Trifecta Winnings: $43.00

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Acacia Courtney (VIEW BIO)

TV Analyst/Host for Gulfstream Park

Vosburgh Stakes

1. El Deal

2. Takaful

3. Stallwalkin’ Dude

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Sadler’s Joy

2. Beach Patrol

3. Money Multiplier

Awesome Again Stakes

1. Cupid

2. Midnight Storm

3. Mubtaahij

Top Selection Winners: 6/18

Exacta Winnings: $160.90

Trifecta Winnings: $398.40

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C.J. Johnsen (VIEW BIO)

Director of Wagering for Kentucky Downs 

Vosburgh Stakes

1. Stallwalkin’ Dude

2. El Deal

3. Takaful

Alternate: Mr. Crow

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Beach Patrol

2. Mekhtaal

3. Sadler’s Joy

Alternate: Ascend

Awesome Again Stakes

1. Cupid

2. Breaking Lucky

3. Curlin Rules

Alternate: Mubtaahij

Top Selection Winners: 7/18

Exacta Winnings: $99.30

Trifecta Winnings: $41.88

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Bryan Simpkins (VIEW BIO)

Handicapper and Writer for Danonymous Racing

Vosburgh Stakes

1. El Deal

2. Stallwalkin’ Dude

3. Mr. Crow

Alternate: Takaful

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Oscar Performance

2. Sadler’s Joy

3. Mekhtaal

Alternate: Money Multiplier

Awesome Again Stakes

1. Mubtaahij

2. Cupid

3. Breaking Lucky

Alternate: Donworth

Top Selection Winners: 10/18

Exacta Winnings: $147.90

Trifecta Winnings: $52.08

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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

Vosburgh Stakes

1. Mr. Crow

2. Celtic Chaos

3. Stallwalkin’ Dude

Alternate: Takaful

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Money Multiplier

2. Fanciful Angel

3. Mekhtaal

Alternate: Beach Patrol

Awesome Again Stakes

1. Cupid

2. Mubtaahij

3. Breaking Lucky

Alternate: Midnight Storm

Top Selection Winners: 2/18

Exacta Winnings: $1,147.71

Trifecta Winnings: $3,844.60