S9E30: Kentucky Derby stars & mystery guest

The final preview of Kentucky Derby 152 brings together the best of TV personalities, trainers and handicappers on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

NBC’s Steve Kornacki spends some time talking about the field for this year’s Derby and how he will go about dispensing statistical trends that are his specialty on the national telecast.

Trainers Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher and Mark Glatt chat about their contenders in the Derby. Cox discusses Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Commandment and Blue Grass (G1) victor Further Ado. Pletcher explains his outlook for morning-line favorite Renegade, the Arkansas Derby (G1) victor, having to start from the less-than-desired post 1. Glatt offers his thoughts about Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner So Happy as well as the personal challenges he and his family have faced during the winter.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch is along to present his tips for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Derby itself.

In the feedback section of the show, a mystery celebrity icon calls in to compare his Derby pick with those of Cherwa, Nelson and Flatter.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

HARD-CORE HANDICAPPERS

Caton Bredar, Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland analyze every horse in Kentucky Derby 2026 and offer a snapshot of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter_Pod_Kentucky_Derby_2026_hard_core_handicappers_123

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S9E29: Kentucky Derby hard-core handicappers

Deep analysis of every horse in Kentucky Derby 2026 from the main draw through the also-eligibles is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland and FanDuel TV’s Caton Bredar go through the entire field from the favorite Renegade to the longest of long shots. They evaluate every horse from 1 to 20 plus the four horses who were entered as also-eligibles.

How do they think the rail draw may affect Renegade? Will the Brad Cox-trained trio of Commandment, Further Ado and Fulleffort figure prominently on their tickets? Do they think Chief Wallabee will give Bill Mott his second consecutive Derby triumph?  Who are the tosses, and who are the value plays? The panel answers all those questions.

There also is a snapshot preview of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is posted every Friday with pop-ups like this one for Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races. It is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

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S9E28: ’Twas the week before Derby

The field for Kentucky Derby 2026 will be drawn this weekend, when final breezes will show up on the Churchill Downs work tab. That is the setting for this episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, is preparing his first two Derby horses for next Saturday’s big date. He talks about Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt and Grade 2 Wood Memorial victor Albus as well as his relationship with their owner Pin Oak Stable.

In a nod to bettors, National Thoroughbred Racing Association chief operating officer Keith Chamblin discusses the growth of handicapping contests in the blush of the most exciting renewal of the National Horseplayers Championship. He talks about the formats of these competitions as well as his concerns about the future of money-troubled Hawthorne, which has been a breeding ground for NHC winners from Chicagoland.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty looks at early handicapping angles on the Derby and areas where he may be aiming his money. He also has tips for the Roxelana Stakes on opening day Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat and offer reaction to listener and reader feedback.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

Coming Saturday night: The pop-up episode featuring Kentucky Derby 2026 hard-core handicappers Caton Bredar, Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland.

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S9E27: Sovereignty vs. Journalism 3.0

A fortnight before Kentucky Derby 2026, a rematch between Sovereignty and Journalism highlights the weekend as well as the discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Godolphin USA bloodstock director Michael Banahan about reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and his third meeting with Journalism, this time in Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. Sovereignty won both their previous showdowns last year in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes to galvanize his championship case. Banahan discusses the Godolphin homebred colt’s return from a seven-month layoff and his strategy for the six-horse stakes this weekend in Arkansas. He also looks back on the decision to skip the Preakness after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Economics professor and Thoroughbred owner-player Marshall Gramm talks about the course in horse betting that he has been teaching this spring at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

Handicapper Ed DeRosa has Saturday tips for the Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas and the Elkhorn (G2) and Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat and take part in a review of listener and reader feedback about the lawsuit filed by White Abarrio’s owners over the controversial vet scratch in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

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S9E26: Talking Kentucky Derby & Apple Blossom

The field is penciled into place for Kentucky Derby 2026 in three weeks at Churchill Downs. It also is set for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn. Both races come into focus this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

U.S. and Canada hall-of-fame trainer Mark Casse discusses Eclipse Award winner Nitrogen’s bid to win the Apple Blossom. He also has Oaklawn stakes winner Nerazurri in the race. Casse also discusses his Kentucky Derby contender Silent Tactic and Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopes Counting Stars and Search Party.

Horseplayers advocate Chris Larmey talks about his book Betting On Horse$ in an interview at the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch offers some early thoughts about the Derby as well as weekend tips for Oaklawn.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat, and feedback offers listener and reader reaction to last week’s interview with former FanDuel TV host Todd Schrupp.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

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S9E25: Schrupp speaks

For the first time since he left FanDuel TV in February, racing host and analyst Todd Schrupp breaks his silence, and the last of the major preps for Kentucky Derby 2026 are the focus this week of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Not only does he talk about his exit, but Schrupp also discusses last week’s announcement that FDTV will go out of existence by the end of next year.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps weekend stakes at Aqueduct and Keeneland, and he talks about the Blue Grass (G1), the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the Wood Memorial (G2), the races that will shape the field for the Kentucky Derby.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat, and listener and reader feedback zeroes in on the closing of FDTV.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

Check out this episode!