For the third year in a row, 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 every weekend leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, beginning with the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26. The handicappers face off in what we like to call “Big-Race Showdown.”

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. We will also be keeping track of which player correctly selects the most winners. Your 2019 players are Dan Cronin, Megan Devine, Emily Gullikson, Candice Hare, Mike McCormick, Nicolle Neulist, Dan Tordjman, and Brian Zipse.

Our featured races this week are the $200,000 Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and the $1 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. NBC Sports will feature live coverage of the Arkansas Derby on NBCSN from 7 - 8 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

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Dan Cronin

Horse Racing Handicapper, NHC Qualifier

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Sueno

2. Anothertwistafate

3. Shang

Alternate: Harvey Wallbanger

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Improbable 

2. Omaha Beach

3. Country House

Alternate: Long Range Toddy

Winning Top Choice: 5/21

Exacta Earnings: $241.40

Trifecta Earnings: $365.08

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Megan Devine

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Anothertwistafate

2. Sueno

3. Harvey Wallbanger

Alternate: Owendale

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Improbable 

2. Omaha Beach

3. Country House

Alternate: Long Range Toddy

Winning Top Choice: 4/21

Exacta Earnings: $217.40

Trifecta Earnings: $517.28

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Anothertwistafate

2. Roiland

3. Knicks Go

Alternate: Shang

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Tikhvin Flew

2. Country House

3. Laughing Fox

Alternate: Omaha Beach

Winning Top Choice: 1/21

Exacta Earnings: $85.00

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. N/A

2. N/A

3. N/A

Alternate: N/A

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. N/A

2. N/A

3. N/A

Alternate: N/A

Winning Top Choice: 5/21

Exacta Earnings: $177.80

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Mike McCormick

Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Zenden

2. Anothertwistafate

3. Sueno

Alternate: Shang

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Omaha Beach

2. Improbable 

3. Long Range Toddy

Alternate: Country House

Winning Top Choice: 4/21

Exacta Earnings: $103.80

Trifecta Earnings: $38.40

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Nicolle Neulist

Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Anothertwistafate

2. Sueno

3. Owendale

Alternate: Zenden

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Long Range Toddy

2. Improbable 

3. Country House

Alternate: Omaha Beach

Winning Top Choice: 7/21

Exacta Earnings: $245

Trifecta Earnings: $345.28

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Dan Tordjman

Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Shang

2. Owendale

3. Sueno

Alternate: Harvey Wallbanger

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Improbable 

2. Country House

3. Omaha Beach

Alternate: Laughing Fox

Winning Top Choice: 2/21

Exacta Earnings: $65.20

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner 

$200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes

1. Anothertwistafate

2. Harvey Wallbanger

3. Sueno

Alternate: Zenden

$1 million Arkansas Derby

1. Improbable 

2. Omaha Beach

3. Country House

Alternate: Gray Attempt 

Winning Top Choice: 2/21

Exacta Earnings: $81.00

Trifecta Earnings: $113.20