For the seventh 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 2023 Triple Crown and then continuing through the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The handicappers face off in what we like to call the “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 playercorrectly selects the most winners.

Your players for the 2023 Big Race Showdown season are Edison Hatter (In the Money Media Analyst, Meadowlands On-Air Host), Ashley Mailloux (freelance racing analyst), Jessica Paquette (Racecaller for Parx Racing, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation), John Piassek (Communications Manager, Maryland Horse Breeders Association),  Roberto Rodriguez (El Potro Roberto, DRF en Espanol), Mike Somich (The Magic Mike Show, Somo Bombs Handicapper – The Racing Dudes), Naomi Tukker (Eclipse Award-winning Sports Broadcaster, World Horse Racing Producer),  Darwin Vizcaya (Handicapper and Host, La Trifecta from America’s Best Racing), Rowan Ward (Chartcaller at Hawthorne Race Track and a Freelance Writer), and Brian Zipse (Senior Writer for Horse Racing Nation and Host of HorseCenter).

This week’s Big Race Showdown races are the 149th Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 5 at Churchill Downs and the 149th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 6.

NBC Sports will provide coverage in a live broadcast on USA Network, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The Oaks, other races from Churchill, plus a Derby preview and features will also be available at NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app and streamed on Peacock. Post time for the Kentucky Oaks is 5:51 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports will provide a record 7 ½ hours of coverage on Kentucky Derby day in a nationwide broadcast from noon to 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC that will also include live racing on the Derby undercard at Churchill, betting analysis, onsite coverage of fashion and celebrites, and features from NBC’s award-winning team led by host Mike Tirico and analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey. Saturday’s broadcast will feature nine live races total. Features include a visit with Forte’s co-owner Mike Repole, a profile on Derby-winning trainer and Louisville native Brad Cox, and an update on inspirational Breeders’ Cup winner Cody’s Wish and the Dorman family.

Post time for Derby 149 is 6:57 p.m. The broadcast will also be available online at NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app and streamed on Peacock.

PLEASE NOTE: A flurry of late scratches including champion Forte, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move and third-place finisher Skinner, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino winner Lord Miles, and UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal third-place finisher Continuar dramatically changed the complexion of the Derby field in the last 72 hours before the race.