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 for this week: the $400,000, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds and the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, both on Saturday.

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Dan Cronin

Horse Racing Handicapper, NHC Qualifier

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. War of Will

2. Hog Creek Hustle

3. Plus Que Parfait

Alternate: Roiland

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. King of Speed

2. Eagle Song

3. Kingly

Alternate: Weekly Call

Winning Top Choice: 3/6

Exacta Earnings: $65.20

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Megan Devine

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Gun It

2. War of Will

3. Limonite

Alternate: Frolic More

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Eagle Song

2. Kingly

3. King of Speed

Alternate: More Ice

Winning Top Choice: 1/6

Exacta Earnings: $87.00

Trifecta Earnings: $210.40

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Limonite

2. War of Will

3. Roiland

Alternate: Country House

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Kingly

2. Anothertwistafate

3. Eagle Song

Alternate: Angelo’s Pride

Winning Top Choice: 0/6

Exacta Earnings: $4.80

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Country House

2. War of Will

3. Hog Creek Hustle

Alternate: Manny Wah

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Eagle Song

2. Anothertwistafate

3. King of Speed

Alternate: Kingly

Winning Top Choice: 3/6

Exacta Earnings: $4.80

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Mike McCormick

Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Country House

2. War of Will

3. Manny Wah

Alternate: Mr. Money

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Kingly

2. Anothertwistafate

3. Weekly Call

Alternate: Eagle Song

Winning Top Choice: 2/6

Exacta Earnings: $4.80

Trifecta Earnings: $14.80

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Nicolle Neulist

Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. War of Will

2. Hog Creek Hustle

3. Country House

Alternate: Limonite

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Weekly Call

2. King of Speed

3. Anothertwistafate

Alternate: More Ice

Winning Top Choice: 3/6

Exacta Earnings: $4.80

Trifecta Earnings: $14.80

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Dan Tordjman

Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Limonite

2. War of Will

3. Owendale

Alternate: Plus Que Parfait

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. More Ice

2. Eagle Song

3. Kingly

Alternate: Rey Coliman

Winning Top Choice: 1/6

Exacta Earnings: $65.20

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner 

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford

1. Owendale

2. War of Will

3. Mr. Money

Alternate: Country House

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby

1. Anothertwistafate

2. King of Speed

3. Kingly

Alternate: Eagle Song

Winning Top Choice: 2/6

Exacta Earnings: $4.80

Trifecta Earnings: $14.80