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 for this week, all on Saturday, are: the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at 4:30 p.m. ET at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes at 5:13 p.m ET at Gulfstream Park, and the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park at 5:30 p.m. ET. Coverage of all three races begins at 4 p.m. ET on FS2.

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Dan Cronin

Horse Racing Handicapper, NHC Qualifier

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Moretti

2. Our Braintrust

3. Tax

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Maximus Mischief

2. Federal Case

3. Harvey Wallbanger

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Mucho Gusto

2. Gunmetal Gray

3. Magnificent McCool

Winning Top Choice: 2/2

Exacta Earnings: $60.40

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Megan Devine

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Moretti

2. Our Braintrust

3. Tax

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Federal Case

2. Mihos

3. Maximus Mischief

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Gunmetal Gray

2. Mucho Gusto

3. Nolo Contesto

Winning Top Choice: 1/2

Exacta Earnings: $82.20

Trifecta Earnings: $210.40

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Moretti

2. Sir Winston

3. Admire

Alternate: Lucky Lee

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Mihos

2. Come On Gerry

3. Epic Dreamer

Alternate: Harvey Wallbanger

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Nolo Contesto

2. Gunmetal Gray

3. Magnificent McCool

Alternate: Mucho Gusto

Winning Top Choice: 0/2

Exacta Earnings: $0

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Our Braintrust

2. Lucky Lee

3. Moretti

Alternate: Tax

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Harvey Wallbanger

2. Mihos

3. Maximus Mischief

Alternate: Garter and Tie

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Mucho Gusto

2. Magnificent McCool

3. Nolo Contesto

Alternate: Gunmetal Gray

Winning Top Choice: 1/2

Exacta Earnings: $0

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Mike McCormick

Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Tax

2. Our Braintrust

3. Lucky Lee

Alternate: Moretti

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Maximus Mischief

2. Mihos

3. Garter and Tie

Alternate: Federal Case

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Nolo Contesto

2. Gunmetal Gray

3. Mucho Gusto

Alternate: Easy Shot 

Winning Top Choice: 1/2

Exacta Earnings: $0

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Nicolle Neulist

Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Tax

2. Moretti

3. Our Braintrust

Alternate: Lucky Lee

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Mihos

2. Harvey Wallbanger

3. Maximus Mischief

Alternate: Garter and Tie

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Mucho Gusto

2. Gunmetal Gray

3. Nolo Contesto

Alternate: Easy Shot 

Winning Top Choice: 1/2

Exacta Earnings: $0

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Dan Tordjman

Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Not That Brady

2. Our Braintrust

3. Lucky Lee

Alternate: Moretti

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Mihos

2. Maximus Mischief

3. Garter and Tie

Alternate: Federal Case

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Gunmetal Gray

2. Mucho Gusto

3. Magnificent McCool

Alternate: Nolo Contesto

Winning Top Choice: 1/2

Exacta Earnings: $60.40

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner 

$250,000 Withers Stakes

1. Tax

2. Admire

3. Moretti

Alternate: Our Braintrust 

$350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes

1. Maximus Mischief

2. Mihos

3. Epic Dreamer

Alternate: Federal Case

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

1. Mucho Gusto

2. Nolo Contesto

3. Gunmetal Gray

Alternate: Easy Shot 

Winning Top Choice: 0/2

Exacta Earnings: $0

Trifecta Earnings: $0