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.

We kicked off “Big-Race Showdown” earlier this year with season one focusing on the run up to and through the Triple Crown. The final standings for those races can be found below.

For this week, the two featured races are both Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races at Gulfstream Park — the Princess Rooney Stakes Presented by Hardacre Farm and the Smile Sprint Stakes. 

The player’s 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.

Standings from Triple Crown Big Race Showdown:

LEADERS

Top selection winners: Acacia Courtney

Exacta winnings: Eric Bialek

Trifecta winnings: Dan Tordjman 

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Eric Bialek (VIEW BIO)

National Handicapping Championship Qualifier

Princess Rooney Stakes

1. Dearest

2. Kinsley Kisses

3. Lightstream

Alt: Birdatthewire

Smile Sprint Stakes

1. Imperial Hint

2. Awesome Banner

3. Royal Squeeze

Alt: Coronado Again

Top Selection Winners: 1/2

Exacta Winnings: $10.60

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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Acacia Courtney (VIEW BIO)

TV Analyst/Host for Gulfstream Park

Princess Rooney Stakes

1. Lightstream

2. Dearest

3. Distinta

Alt: Curlin’s Approval

Smile Sprint Stakes

1. Imperial Hint

2. Awesome Banner

3. Royal Squeeze

Alt: Delta Bluesman

Top Selection Winners: 1/2

Exacta Winnings: $0

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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C.J. Johnsen (VIEW BIO)

Director of Wagering for Kentucky Downs 

Princess Rooney Stakes

1. Lightstream

2. Birdatthewire

3. Kinsley Kisses

Alt: Curlin’s Approval

Smile Sprint Stakes

1. Quijote

2. Awesome Banner

3. Imperial Hint

Alt: Royal Squeeze

Top Selection Winners: 2/2

Exacta Winnings: $0

Trifecta Winnings: $0

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Bryan Simpkins (VIEW BIO)

Handicapper and Writer for Danonymous Racing

Princess Rooney Stakes

1. Curlin’s Approval

2. Lightstream

3. Birdatthewire

Smile Sprint Stakes

1. Imperial Hint

2. Delta Bluesman

3. Awesome Banner

Top Selection Winners: 2/2

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

Princess Rooney Stakes

1. Kinsley Kisses

2. Curlin’s Approval

3. Lightstream

Alt: Dearest

Smile Sprint Stakes

1. Quijote

2. Imperial Hint

3. Royal Squeeze

Alt: Awesome Banner

Top Selection Winners: 0/2

Exacta Winnings: $76.60

Trifecta Winnings: $272.80

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