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, all on Saturday: the $400,000, Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, a Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Maker's Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf; the $500,000, Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, a qualifier for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; the $500,000, Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; and the $1 million, Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes, a qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

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Eric Bialek

National Handicapping Championship Qualifier

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. Quidura

2. Crown Walk

3. A Raving Beauty

Alternate: Indian Blessing

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Dream Maker

2. Tobacco Road

3. Mind Control

Alternate: Mr. Ankeny

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Endorsed

2. Complexity

3. Trophy Chaser

Alternate: Call Paul

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Analyze It

2. Almanaar

3. Synchrony

Alternate: Qurbaan

Top Selection: 11/24

Exacta Winnings: $194.20

Trifecta Winnings: $18.80

Total Winnings: $213.00

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. Crown Walk

2. Off Limits

3. A Raving Beauty

Alternate:  Quidura

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Dream Maker

2. Moonster

3. Everfast

Alternate: Fluminense

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Code of Honor

2. Complexity

3. Endorsed

Alternate: Aurelius Maximus

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Almanaar

2. Synchrony

3. Analyze It

Alternate: Multiplier

Top Selection: 5/24

Exacta Winnings: $68.20

Trifecta Winnings: $0

Total Winnings: $68.20

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. La Sardane

2. Indian Blessing

3. Valadorna

Alternate: A Raving Beauty

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Borracho

2. Mind Control

3. Unionizer

Alternate: Dream Maker

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Endorsed

2. Aurelius Maximus

3. Complexity

Alternate: Code of Honor

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Qurbaan

2. Bound for Nowhere

3. Mr. Misunderstood

Alternate: Synchrony

Top Selection: 9/24

Exacta Winnings: $287.80

Trifecta Winnings: $150.48

Total Winnings: $438.28

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Nicolle Neulist

Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. Dona Bruja

2. A Raving Beauty

3. Off Limits

Alternate:  Valadorna

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Dream Maker

2. Mind Control

3. Unionizer 

Alternate: Standard Deviation

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Aurelius Maximus

2. Endorsed

3. Listing

Alternate: Casa Creed

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Almanaar

2. Bound for Nowhere

3. Analyze It

Alternate: Qurbaan

Top Selection: 6/24

Exacta Winnings: $174.00

Trifecta Winnings: $61.46

Total Winnings: $235.46

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Dan Tordjman

Video Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. Insta Erma

2. Indian Blessing

3. Off Limits

Alternate: A Raving Beauty

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Sombeyay

2. Derby Date

3. Fluminense

Alternate: Tobacco Road

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Trophy Chaser

2. Complexity

3. Aurelius Maximus

Alternate: Listing

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Analyze It

2. Bound for Nowhere

3. Synchrony

Alternate: Divisidero

Top Selection: 9/24

Exacta Winnings: $251.00

Trifecta Winnings: $0

Total Winnings: $251.00

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner

$400,000 First Lady Stakes

1. Crown Walk 

2. Quidura

3. Valadorna

Alternate: La Sardane

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

1. Dream Maker

2. Standard Deviation

3. Sombeyay

Alternate: Mind Control

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Trophy Chaser

2. Endorsed

3. Aurelius Maximus

Alternate: Call Paul

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Analyze It

2. Almanaar

3. Heart to Heart

Alternate: Synchrony

Top Selection: 9/24

Exacta Winnings: $113.10

Trifecta Winnings: $36.20

Total Winnings: $149.30