Horse racing’s second season – the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and the run-up to the world championships of horse racing at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2 and 3 – 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  $2 exacta and $2 trifecta box bets of each player’s top three selections. Check next week's Big-Race Showdown to find out how the players fared. Your players are Eric Bialek, Emily Gullikson, Candice Hare, Nicolle Neulist, Dan Tordjman, and Brian Zipse.

Let’s take a look at the players’ picks for this week’s races: the $500,000, Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes, a "Win and You're In" prep race for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; the $750,000, Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, a qualifier or the Breeders' Cup Classic; the $300,000, Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes, a "Win and You're In" prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the $300,000, Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, a qualifier for Breeders’ Cup Classic.  The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Jockey Club Gold Cup will be held Saturday at Belmont Park, while the Rodeo Drive and Awesome Again are scheduled for Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

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Eric Bialek

National Handicapping Championship Qualifier

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Robert Bruce

2. Channel Maker

3. Carrick

Alternate: Spring Quality 

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Diversify

2. Uno Mas Modelo

3. Mendelssohn

Alternate: Thunder Snow

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Vasilika

2. Cambodia

3. Queen Blossom

Alternate: Paved

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. Accelerate

2. West Coast

3. The Lieutenant

Alternate: Prime Attraction

Top Selection: 9/20

Exacta Winnings: $162.40

Trifecta Winnings: $18.80

Total Winnings: $181.20

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Hi Happy

2. Sadler’s Joy

3. Robert Bruce

Alternate: Spring Quality

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Thunder Snow

2. Patch

3. Gronkowski

Alternate: Mendelssohn

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Sophie P

2. Tizbutadream

3. Cambodia

Alternate: Beau Recall

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. West Coast

2. Accelerate

3. Prime Attraction

Alternate: The Lieutenant

Top Selection: 5/20

Exacta Winnings: $65

Trifecta Winnings: $0

Total Winnings: $65

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Sadler’s Joy

2. Robert Bruce

3. Channel Maker

Alternate: Carrick

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Diversify

2. Thunder Snow

3. Patch

Alternate: Gronkowski

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Vasilika

2. Cambodia

3. Sophie P

Alternate: Paved

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. Accelerate

2. Prime Attraction

3. West Coast

Alternate: The Lieutenant

Top Selection: 7/20

Exacta Winnings: $256

Trifecta Winnings: $52

Total Winnings: $308

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Nicolle Neulist

Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Robert Bruce

2. Hi Happy

3. Channel Maker

Alternate: Carrick

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Diversify

2. Thunder Snow

3. Patch

Alternate: Mendelssohn

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Vasilika

2. Cambodia

3. Queen Blossom

Alternate: Paved

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. Accelerate

2. West Coast

3. Prime Attraction

Alternate: Shades of Victory

Top Selection: 4/20

Exacta Winnings: $142.20

Trifecta Winnings: $61.46

Total Winnings: $203.66

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Dan Tordjman

Video Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Channel Maker

2. Hi Happy

3. Spring Quality

Alternate: Robert Bruce

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Gronkowski

2. Diversify

3. Patch

Alternate: Mendelssohn

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Paved

2. Beau Recall

3. Vasilika

Alternate: Cambodia

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. Accelerate

2. West Coast

3. Shades of Victory

Alternate: The Lieutenant

Top Selection: 7/20

Exacta Winnings: $199.40

Trifecta Winnings: $0

Total Winnings: $199.40

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner

$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

1. Teodoro

2. Robert Bruce

3. Spring Quality

Alternate: Channel Maker

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. Diversify

2. Patch

3. Gronkowski

Alternate: Thunder Snow

$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes

1. Vasilika

2. Sophie P

3. Cambodia

Alternate: Queen Blossom 

$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

1. Accelerate

2. West Coast

3. The Lieutenant

Alternate: Prime Attraction 

Top Selection: 7/20

Exacta Winnings: $109.90

Trifecta Winnings: $36.20

Total Winnings: $146.30