For the 10th consecutive year, America’s Best Racing is inviting top experts in horse betting to nominate their top three selections for significant weekend competitions ahead of the 2026 Triple Crown, extending through the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships held at Keeneland. These handicappers compete in an event we refer to as the “Big-Race Showdown.”
Participants’ selections will be published on this platform, and a continuous financial record will be maintained to monitor their performance throughout the year. These financial records will be calculated using $2 exacta and $2 trifecta box wagers based on each participant’s three chosen horses. Additionally, we will monitor which participant successfully identifies the highest number of victorious horses.
The competitors participating in the 2026 Big Race Showdown season include: Thomas Kearney (Track Announcer, Shenandoah Downs), Ashley Mailloux (Freelance Racing Analyst), NoelMichaels (Racing Analyst, Tournament Handicapper), Jessica Paquette (Racecaller for Parx Racing, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation), John Piassek (Assistant Racing Secretary, Yonkers Raceway), Roberto Rodriguez (El Potro Roberto, DRF en Espanol), Darwin Vizcaya (Handicapper and Host), and Rowan Ward (Chartcaller at Hawthorne Race Track and a Freelance writer).
The events featured in this week’s Big-Race Showdown are: the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, valued at $1.25 million, scheduled for Saturday at Keeneland Race Course, the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino, with a $750,000 purse, taking place Saturday at Aqueduct, and the Santa Anita Derby, a $500,000 race, occurring Saturday at Santa Anita Park. These three competitions serve as prominent qualifiers for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, awarding a total of 200 points split among the first five placers in a 100-50-25-15-10 sequence.
Events at Keeneland are televised via FanDuel TV, and the Blue Grass Stakes will additionally be shown on NBCSN and available for streaming on Peacock within a program scheduled from 6-7 p.m. ET. The Wood Memorial will be aired on FS2 as an element of “America’s Day at the Races,” whereas the Santa Anita Derby will similarly be featured on FanDuel TV alongside other competitions originating from Santa Anita Park.
