
Exterminator: The Legend of 'Old Bones'
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.
TVG On-Air Host and Analyst
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
1. Gozilla
Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. By Your Side
Alternate: Enforceable
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. Valid Point
3. Bowies Hero
Alternate: Vintager
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Omaha Beach
3. Flagstaff
Alternate: Horse Greedy
Top Selections: 7/23
Exacta Earnings: $138.10
Trifecta Earnings: $99.68
OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
2. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Three Technique
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. Ajaaweed
Alternate: January Won
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. Next Shares
2. Valid Point
Alternate: March to the Arch
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Flagstaff
3. Horse Greedy
Alternate: Omaha Beach
Top Selections: 7/23
Exacta Earnings: $151.90
Trifecta Earnings: $79.28
TVG On-Air Host and Analyst
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
3. Gozilla
Alternate: Tiz the Law
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. January Won
2. Maxfield
Alternate: American Butterfly
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. Vintager
3. Bandua
Alternate: Bowies Hero
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Flagstaff
3. Omaha Beach
Alternate: Horse Greedy
Top Selections: 8/23
Exacta Earnings: $127.30
Trifecta Earnings: $275.20
Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
3. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Gozilla
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. Ajaaweed
3. Enforceable
Alternate: Tap It to Win
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. First Premio
2. Bandua
3. Divisidero
Alternate: Diamond Oops
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Flagstaff
2. Omaha Beach
3. Shancelot
Alternate: California Street
Top Selections: 7/23
Exacta Earnings: $114.70
Trifecta Earnings: $69.60
Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
3. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. Ajaaweed
3. Maxfield
Alternate: Gouverneur Morris
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
2. Valid Point
3. Bandua
Alternate: Bowies Hero
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Flagstaff
3. Omaha Beach
Alternate: California Street
Top Selections: 9/23
Exacta Earnings: $275.90
Trifecta Earnings: $111.60
FBWinners.com, Sports Handicapper
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
1. Gozilla
3. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
1. By Your Side
2. Enforceable
3. Ajaaweed
Alternate: Gouverneur Morris
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. Bowies Hero
2. Suedois
3. Bandua
Alternate: Next Shares
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Omaha Beach
3. Flagstaff
Alternate: Horse Greedy
Top Selections: 6/23
Exacta Earnings: $152.10
Trifecta Earnings: $16.80
Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
1. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Gozilla
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
2. King Theo
Alternate: Ajaaweed
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1. Real Story
2. First Premio
3. Vintager
Alternate: March to the Arch
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Shancelot
2. Omaha Beach
3. Horse Greedy
Alternate: Flagstaff
Top Selections: 5/23
Exacta Earnings: $125.90
Trifecta Earnings: $0
Derby Day Racing Managing Partner
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
3. Tiz the Law
Alternate: Alpha Sixty Six
$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity
Alternate: Ajaaweed
$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
3. Suedois
Alternate: Robin of Navan
$300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes
1. Flagstaff
2. Omaha Beach
3. Shancelot
Alternate: California Street
Top Selections: 11/23
Exacta Earnings: $152.90
Trifecta Earnings: $79.28