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 $500,000 Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes, a Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint); the $850,000, Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; and the $200,000, Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes from Del Mar on Saturday, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

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Megan Devine

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Separationofpowers

2. Come Dancing

3. Mia Mischief

Alternate: Dawn the Destroyer

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Channel Maker

2. Ya Primo

3. Sadler’s Joy

Alternate: Annals of Time

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Catalina Cruiser

2. Giant Expectations

3. American Anthem

Alternate: Seven Trumpets

Top Selections: 6/12

Exacta Earnings: $64.60

Trifecta Earnings: $79.28

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Emily Gullikson

OptixEQ, Tournament Handicapper

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Dawn the Destroyer

2. Come Dancing

3. Pacific Gale

Alternate: Separationofpowers

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Ya Primo

2. Sadler’s Joy

3. Annals of Time

Alternate: Channel Maker

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Catalina Cruiser

2. Jalen Journey

3. American Anthem

Alternate: Giant Expectations

Top Selections: 4/12

Exacta Earnings: $33.60

Trifecta Earnings: $79.28

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Candice Hare

TVG On-Air Host and Analyst

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Come Dancing

2. Separationofpowers

3. Special Relativity

Alternate: Mia Mischief

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Sadler’s Joy

2. Annals of Time

3. Channel Cat

Alternate: Ya Primo

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Giant Expectations

2. Lieutenant Dan

3. Catalina Cruiser

Alternate: American Anthem

Top Selections: 7/12

Exacta Earnings: $59.20

Trifecta Earnings: $16.80

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Mike McCormick

Horse Racing Writer, Handicapper

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Special Relativity

2. Separationofpowers

3. Minit to Stardom

Alternate: Come Dancing

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Channel Cat

2. Sadler’s Joy

3. Channel Maker

Alternate: Ya Primo

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Catalina Cruiser

2. American Anthem

3. Jalen Journey

Alternate: Lieutenant Dan

Top Selections: 5/12

Exacta Earnings: $25.60

Trifecta Earnings: $69.60

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Nicolle Neulist

Arlington Park Chart Caller and Freelance Writer

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Come Dancing

2. Minit to Stardom

3. Mia Mischief

Alternate: Separationofpowers

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Channel Maker

2. Channel Cat

3. Noble Thought

Alternate: Ya Primo

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Catalina Cruiser

2. Seven Trumpets

3. American Anthem

Alternate: Lieutenant Dan

Top Selections: 4/12

Exacta Earnings: $67.80

Trifecta Earnings: $111.60

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Kenny Schmitt

FBWinners.com, Sports Handicapper

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Come Dancing

2. Separationofpowers

3. Minit to Stardom

Alternate: Pacific Gale

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Annals of Time

2. Pillar Mountain

3. Ya Primo

Alternate: Channel Cat

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Seven Trumpets

2. Catalina Cruiser

3. Giant Expectations

Alternate: Jalen Journey

Top Selections: 4/12

Exacta Earnings: $64.80

Trifecta Earnings: $16.80

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Dan Tordjman

Correspondent and Handicapper for America's Best Racing

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Separationofpowers

2. Dawn the Destroyer

3. Mia Mischief

Alternate: Special Relativity

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Annals of Time

2. Proven Reserves

3. Sadler’s Joy

Alternate: Pillar Mountain

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Catalina Cruiser

2. Seven Trumpets

3. American Anthem

Alternate: Lieutenant Dan

Top Selections: 3/12

Exacta Earnings: $31.20

Trifecta Earnings: $0

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Brian Zipse

Derby Day Racing Managing Partner 

$500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

1. Separationofpowers

2. Special Relativity

3. Come Dancing

Alternate: Minit to Stardom

$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes

1. Annals of Time

2. Pillar Mountain

3. Channel Maker

Alternate: Channel Cat

$200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes

1. Seven Trumpets

2. Catalina Cruiser

3. American Anthem

Alternate: Giant Expectations

Top Selections: 7/12

Exacta Earnings: $63.80

Trifecta Earnings: $79.28