
2021 Southwest Stakes Cheat Sheet
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 race this week is the Rebel Stakes, which was split into two $750,000 divisions due to a surplus of entries, both awarding Kentucky Derby points with 37.5 points to each winner. Division one is Race 8 while division two is Race 10 at Oaklawn Park. Both races will be showcased during a 2 1/2-hour broadcast of "Fox Sports Saturday At The Races" presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy and Claiborne Farm on FS2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. ET.
Horse Racing Handicapper, NHC Qualifier
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
2. Galilean
3. Extra Hope
Alternate: Long Range Toddy
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
2. Omaha Beach
Alternate: Gunmetal Gray
Winning Top Choice: 5/12
Exacta Earnings: $113.20
Trifecta Earnings: $208.48
TVG On-Air Host and Analyst
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
3. Galilean
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
2. Omaha Beach
Winning Top Choice: 2/12
Exacta Earnings: $135.00
Trifecta Earnings: $418.88
OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
3. Extra Hope
Alternate: Galilean
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Laughing Fox
2. Game Winner
3. Omaha Beach
Alternate: Our Braintrust
Winning Top Choice: 0/12
Exacta Earnings: $16.60
Trifecta Earnings: $0
TVG On-Air Host and Analyst
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
2. Extra Hope
3. Ninth Street
Alternate: Galilean
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
Alternate: Omaha Beach
Winning Top Choice: 5/12
Exacta Earnings: $177.80
Trifecta Earnings: $0
Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Extra Hope
2. Improbable
3. Galilean
Alternate: Long Range Toddy
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
2. Omaha Beach
3. Laughing Fox
Alternate: Gunmetal Gray
Winning Top Choice: 3/12
Exacta Earnings: $48.60
Trifecta Earnings: $14.80
Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
3. Galilean
Alternate: Extra Hope
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
2. Laughing Fox
Alternate: Gunmetal Gray
Winning Top Choice: 6/12
Exacta Earnings: $139.40
Trifecta Earnings: $223.28
Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
2. Galilean
3. Extra Hope
Alternate: Corruze
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
2. Laughing Fox
3. Game Winner
Alternate: Gunmetal Gray
Winning Top Choice: 2/12
Exacta Earnings: $65.20
Trifecta Earnings: $0
Derby Day Racing Managing Partner
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division one
1. Improbable
3. Galilean
Alternate: Extra Hope
$750,000 Rebel Stakes, division two
1. Game Winner
2. Laughing Fox
Alternate: Omaha Beach
Winning Top Choice: 2/12
Exacta Earnings: $16.60
Trifecta Earnings: $14.80