S9E35: Counting down to Belmont Stakes

Belmont Stakes 2026 next Saturday concludes the Triple Crown series as well as the race’s three years at Saratoga. It is the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Maggie Wolfendale-Morley of Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association checks in with early angles on some of the top choices in the Belmont, including likely favorite Renegade as well as Kentucky Derby 2026 winner Golden Tempo. She also has a snapshot of the Grade 1 Met Mile, where Nysos and Journalism are expected to start on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Case Clay of Wathnan Racing talks about Belmont Stakes contender Commandment and multimillionaire Hit Show, who races Saturday on Stephen Foster preview day at Churchill Downs. He also discusses the rapid rise of the Qatar-based operation and his own move from Three Chimneys Farm, which his family used to own. Clay even shares the story of how he tried his hand at comedy with Second City in Chicago.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has early angles that he is pursuing for the Belmont Stakes as well as handicapping of two of the graded turf stakes on Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular chat segment and weigh in on listener and reader feedback from last week’s interview with Brent Musburger and Chuck Todd.

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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S9E34: Brent Musburger meets Chuck Todd

Broadcasting icons and sports bettors Brent Musburger and Chuck Todd get together to discuss their ideas to cure what ails the Triple Crown in an exclusive conversation on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Musburger’s years at CBS, ABC and VSiN took him to assignments that included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Todd’s work at NBC did not keep him from having a run at betting on horses. Both accomplished more recently in gambling on other games, they have ideas on how racing can survive in the 21st century.

In the blush of Napoleon Solo’s victory in Preakness 2026, Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Bill Knauf assesses the week at Laurel Park and the transition back to Pimlico next year. He also talks about the coming partnership with Churchill Downs, which is poised to take over the intellectual-property rights to the Preakness as it may move forward on a different date in 2027.

Handicapper Ed DeRosa offers tips for Memorial Day stakes races, including the big card at Santa Anita on Monday. He also offers advice on how to bet the Keertana Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular chat segment and weigh in on listener and reader feedback from Preakness week.

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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S9E33: A Laurel and hearty Preakness

From Laurel Park in Maryland, this weekend’s Preakness Stakes at its unique 2026 location is the centerpiece of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer John Scheinman pays his annual visit by way of an after-dinner interview from his hometown Baltimore. He talks about the changing landscape of Maryland racing as it moves to new caretakers and a reimagined Pimlico next year. He also talks about the past, present and future of the Preakness in addition to offering his tips for Saturday’s race.

Ocelli’s trainer Whit Beckman, Chip Honcho’s trainer Steve Asmussen and undefeated Taj Mahal’s wife-and-husband team of trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Sheldon Russell have the view from the stables as they look forward to the 151st Preakness.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch zeroes in on three stakes on the Saturday card at Laurel Park, including the $2 million feature.

Co-hosts John Cherwa and Keith Nelson join Ron in going through feedback about the Cherwa plan to save the Triple Crown, a proposal built around requiring a fit Kentucky Derby-winning horse to race in the Preakness.

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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S9E32: Hard-core handicappers pop up for Preakness

With a 14-horse field to ponder and study, the hard-core handicappers are back to analyze every horse in Preakness 2026. They are on this special, pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

FanDuel TV’s Caton Bredar joins Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland as well as host Ron Flatter from Laurel Park. They consider whether Iron Honor is a worthy 9-2 favorite on the morning line. They also weigh the possibility that the shortest price come post time Saturday could be Incredibolt or Ocelli from the Kentucky Derby or perhaps new shooter Chip Honcho.

The absence of Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo and the largest Preakness field in 15 years contribute to the conversation about overlays and underlays for this 151st edition of the Preakness, which is being run this year at Laurel Park while Pimlico is being rebuilt.

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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S9E31: What do you mean he’s not going?

Reaction to the decision not to send Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to Preakness 2026 is the main topic of discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde talks about the choices he had to make in writing his story about Golden Tempo’s victory last week, especially balancing Cherie DeVaux being the first woman to train a Derby winner and the Ortiz brothers riding to a one-two finish. He also weighs in on the long-term future of when the Preakness should be run.

From the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas in March, the reigning NHC Tour winner Dave Nichols talks about how tournament play has improved his everyday play at racetracks. He gets into handicapping strategies that have been born from his becoming a more aggressive tournament competitor.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has early angles on the Preakness, and he handicaps this weekend’s Grade 3 Peter Pan and Take the A Train stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

Co-hosts John Cherwa and Keith Nelson join Ron in going through feedback from Horse Racing Nation readers about Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness.

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!