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Big-Race Showdown: Fantastic Four Featuring Fall Stars Double

October 4th, 2019

Two of the four contest races this weekend will be held Saturday at Keeneland Race Course, pictured above. (Eclipse Sportswire)

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 Breeders' Cup on Nov. 1 and 2. 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 TVG's Megan Devine, OptixEQ’s Emily Gullikson, TVG's Candice Hare, Mike McCormick (PokerFuse), Nicolle Neulist (Arlington Park) , Kenny Schmitt (FBWinners.com), ABR’s Dan Tordjman, and Derby Day Racing’s Brian Zipse.

Our featured races this week are the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” prep on Saturday at Belmont Park for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Saturday at Keeneland, also a qualifier for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” prep Saturday at Keeneland for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile; and Saturday’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Champagne will be broadcast live on NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” show airing nationally on FS2 and on various regional channels. NBC Sports will televise the Breeders’ Futurity and the Shadwell Turf Mile. In addition to NBC Sports’ and NYRA’s coverage, all domestic Breeders’ Cup prep races will air live on TVG, including the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

Megan Devine

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

2. Green Light Go

3. Three Technique

Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

1. By Your Side

2. Tap It to Win

3. Gouverneur Morris

Alternate: Enforceable

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

2. Admission Office

Alternate: Vintager

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: Horse Greedy

Top Selections: 7/23

Exacta Earnings: $138.10

Trifecta Earnings: $99.68

Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Alpha Sixty Six

3. Green Light Go

Alternate: Three Technique

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

2. Tap It to Win

3. Gouverneur Morris

Alternate: January Won

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

3. Van Beethoven

Alternate: March to the Arch

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

3. Horse Greedy

Alternate: Omaha Beach

Top Selections: 7/23

Exacta Earnings: $151.90

Trifecta Earnings: $79.28

Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Green Light Go

2. Three Technique

Alternate: Tiz the Law

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

3. Tap It to Win

Alternate: American Butterfly

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

2. Robin of Navan

Alternate: Bowies Hero

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: Horse Greedy

Top Selections: 8/23

Exacta Earnings: $127.30

Trifecta Earnings: $275.20

Mike McCormick

Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Green Light Go

2. Three Technique

Alternate: Gozilla

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

2. Gouverneur Morris

Alternate: Tap It to Win

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. First Premio

Alternate: Diamond Oops

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: California Street

Top Selections: 7/23

Exacta Earnings: $114.70

Trifecta Earnings: $69.60

Nicolle Neulist

Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Three Technique

2. Green Light Go

Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

2. Tap It to Win

Alternate: Gouverneur Morris

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. March to the Arch

Alternate: Bowies Hero

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: California Street

Top Selections: 9/23

Exacta Earnings: $275.90

Trifecta Earnings: $111.60

Kenny Schmitt

FBWinners.com, Sports Handicapper

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

2. Green Light Go

Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

1. By Your Side

Alternate: Gouverneur Morris

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

Alternate: Next Shares

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: Horse Greedy

Top Selections: 6/23

Exacta Earnings: $152.10

Trifecta Earnings: $16.80

Dan Tordjman

Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

2. Green Light Go

3. Three Technique

Alternate: Gozilla

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

1. Gouverneur Morris

3. Tap It to Win

Alternate: Ajaaweed

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

2. First Premio

Alternate: March to the Arch

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

3. Horse Greedy

Alternate: Flagstaff

Top Selections: 5/23

Exacta Earnings: $125.90

Trifecta Earnings: $0

Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner

$500,000 Champagne Stakes

1. Green Light Go

2. Three Technique

Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

1. Tap It to Win

2. American Butterfly

3. Gouverneur Morris

Alternate: Ajaaweed

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

1. Admission Office

2. March to the Arch

Alternate: Robin of Navan

$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

Alternate: California Street

Top Selections: 11/23

Exacta Earnings: $152.90

Trifecta Earnings: $79.28

Stay Lucky: Win a Million in 2019 from America's Best Racing on Vimeo.

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Tips, Trends, and Historical Tidbits for Picking a Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner

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