S8E54: Rudulph and the Goodwood are back

The Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita and the return of a familiar media personality are the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

 Former FanDuel TV host Ken Rudulph talks about what he is doing now and his thoughts about the sport he used to cover daily. He also weighs in with his forecast for the Goodwood.

Trainer Brad Cox discusses First Mission’s bid to get his first Grade 1 win when he races in the feature at Santa Anita. He also talks about multimillionaire Hit Show’s bid to win the Lukas Classic (G2) for the second year in a row as well as some of his other potential Breeders’ Cup horses.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch zeroes in on weekend races at the Belmont at Aqueduct and Churchill Downs September meets.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park help go through 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.

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S8E53: $1 million x 2 Grade 1s in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion, a pair of Grade 1, $1 million stakes for 3-year-olds, will be run this weekend at Parx. They also are the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Track announcer Jessica Paquette checks in from Parx to discuss the two races and their context in the 2025 championship picture. She also provides perspective on the arc of the 3-year-old season for both males and females.

Breeder and co-owner Robert Clay talks about Pennsylvania Derby favorite Baeza, the productivity and sale of his dam Puca and how he changed the direction of his Grandview Equine operation to focus on colts who have turned into classic winners.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty offers tips on the Gallant Bob (G2), the Cotillion and the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park help field feedback from listeners and readers about Churchill Downs continuing to penalize Kentucky Derby preps that lure small fields.

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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S8E52: 1st steps on Kentucky Derby 2026 trail

The first race carrying points toward qualifying for Kentucky Derby 2026 arrives this weekend, and it is the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

TV analyst Kaitlin Free offers a preview of Saturday’s Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and the context it has not only for next year’s Triple Crown series but the final four months of the 2025 racing season.

Eddie Kenneally trains Comport, the morning-line favorite for the Iroquois. He is at the Keeneland September yearling sale, which is where he identified the colt around this time last year.

Handicapper Ed DeRosa has tips for the Iroquois as well as Saturday’s Pocahontas (G3), the first points race for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the Woodbine Mile (G1). 

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park join in the reading of feedback from listeners and readers.

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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S8E51: Like a racetrack on a golf course

The climactic weekend on the turf at Kentucky Downs is the focus this week of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has four horses in the multimillion-dollar weekend stakes. He discusses Spanish Eyes, New Century, Pondering and Z Z’s and their strategies this weekend. Walsh also talks about Special Wan, who won for him at Kentucky Downs last Saturday in the Grade 3 Ladies Turf, and a couple of his standout 3-year-olds.

Dr. Ronald Tang, the California oncologist who won last year’s King of the Turf handicapping contest at Kentucky Downs, shares his basics for betting the boutique, all-turf meet on the Tennessee border. He is asked whether he will go all in again on Grand Sonata, the defender in the Grade 2, $2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup who was key to his contest triumph last summer.

Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland offers weekend handicapping for Kentucky Downs and Colonial Downs.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park join in the response 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.

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S8E50: Showdowns at Del Mar and Saratoga

Local standouts Journalism and Nysos face eastern shipper Fierceness in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, and Mindframe gets a high-profile rematch with Sierra Leone in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. These 1 1/4-mile, Grade 1, $1 million races are spotlighted this week on the Ron Flater Racing Pod.

Christina Blacker of FanDuel TV provides insight on the east vs. west matchup in California. She discusses Preakness and Haskell (G1) winner Journalism’s first time facing older horses like Nysos and Fierceness in their audition for the Breeders’ Cup Classic over the same course and distance in a little more than two months.

Co-owner Brook T. Smith talks about whether Sierra Leone can reverse the trend against Mindframe when they have their third meeting, this time at Saratoga. He also outlines plans for the 4-year-old colt between now and the Breeders’ Cup as well as after the $7 million race in which Sierra Leone is the defending winner.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty checks in from his home base near Del Mar to provide handicapping advice for the big weekend races.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park join in a tribute to Secretariat’s late jockey Ron Turcotte.

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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S8E49: Bring on fall and the Travers

The 156th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga is not only the mid-summer derby. It also is the centerpiece this week for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Racing analyst and TV host Andy Serling of New York Racing Association TV and Fox Sports is along to discuss the race, the Grade 1s on Saturday’s card and the Saratoga summer. He also will talk about the 3-year-old male division and how the Travers could go a long way toward determining the Eclipse Award.

Jockey Júnior Alvarado rides Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty in the Travers talks about the five-horse field this weekend and his strategy for the race.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch examines the Travers and has tips for other races on the Saratoga card.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their thoughts about the Travers as well as 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.

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S8E48: Canada to Italy to Alabama in N.Y.

Canada and Italy line up with the U.S. on this week’s menu for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Ashley Mailloux from FanDuel TV will be at Woodbine this weekend for the 166th running of the King’s Plate. She offers analysis about the field that includes No Time, the morning-line favorite trying to become the 40th filly to win this first race of the Canadian Triple Crown.

The Palio di Siena, the ancient bareback race run twice every summer in Tuscany, happens again this weekend. Sportscaster Kenny Mayne and producer Matt Doyle recall their adventure covering the sometimes controversial event that is centuries old.

La Cara, Good Cheer and Nitrogen are the big names in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps that and other races this weekend.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park join in paying tribute to a famous guest of an old Arlington Million (G1).

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!