The Ron Flatter Racing Pod

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert talks about Justify’s chances to win next week’s Belmont Stakes and make him only the second trainer in history to win two Triple Crowns. Morning host and horseplayer Marc "Moose" Malusis of CBS Sports Radio in New York helps us handicap the field for the June 9 race. Our racing flashback recalls one of the four Triple Crown winners of the ’40s. We will preview the 239th Derby being run Saturday at Epsom in England. We also pay tribute to the late NYRA cameraman John Mazzie, who provided us the view for more than 70-thousand races during his 35-year career. The RFRP is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

UPDATED to reflect Audible not racing in the Belmont Stakes. We get an early look at next month’s Belmont Stakes, where Justify may become the 13th Triple Crown winner. New York Racing Association paddock analyst Maggie Wolfendale-Morley helps us handicap the horses that will be challenging Justify. We also look back on the Preakness with NBC Sports producer Rob Hyland, who had to televise the race through the thick fog at Pimlico. Our racing flashback celebrates the birthday of iconic race caller Dave Johnson, and we preview the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. The RFRP is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

At rainy Pimlico, we are getting ready for a wet Preakness Stakes with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas talking Kentucky Derby winner Justify and his two challengers – Bravazo and Sporting Chance. TVG’s Caton Bredar discusses the race as well as the legalization of sports gambling and the possibility that the Preakness may be moved soon to Laurel Park. Our racing flashback remembers Afleet Alex’s near fall that turned into victory in the 2005 Preakness. We also sample some listener feedback via Twitter. The RFRP is sponsored by TVG and ForHims.com/Racing.

We did it for the Derby. Why not for the Preakness? VSiN's Dave Tuley, Gaughan Gaming's Vinny Magliulo and South Point's Patrick McQuiggan join Ron to handicap the second jewel in the Triple Crown. Each horse gets thorough analysis, and we offer our tips for winning tickets.

This week we offer an early preview of the Preakness Stakes and a look back at the Kentucky Derby on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Pimlico track announcer Dave Rodman offers his insight on Derby winner Justify and the rest of the likely Preakness field. Santa Anita track handicapper Jon White discusses his successful future wager on Justify and the misperceptions often associated with morning lines. The racing flashback is a story that you have never heard before – recalling the unique circumstances that prevented the Kentucky Derby from being broadcast in 1940. And we have a preview of Saturday’s Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. The RFRP is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

The Kentucky Derby preview edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod comes from Louisville. It features NBC Sports host Mike Tirico, who talks about his career and how horse racing was a part of his early life. Trainer Mark Casse discusses his Derby horse Flameaway, looks back on what might have been last year with Classic Empire and recalls what was accomplished with his great mare Tepin. The racing flashback recalls the Derby that got away for Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker. And we even have a quick look at the Kentucky Oaks. The RFRP is sponsored by TVG and by ForHims.com/Racing.

In this pop-up edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, VSiN's Dave Tuley, Gaughan Gaming's Vinny Magliulo and South Point's Patrick McQuiggan join Ron for nuts-and-bolts handicapping of every horse in the Kentucky Derby.

It’s a preview before the Derby preview on this edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. TVG’s Christina Blacker examines the Kentucky Derby field and goes over the 20 horses one-by-one to assess their chances of finishing in the money a week from Saturday. WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden discusses his three Derby horses – Justify, Audible and Noble Indy – and what it will take to add to his 2010 victory with Super Saver. The racing flashback goes back 50 years to when the Derby winner was not the first across the finish line and did not wear the roses. We also check out Twitter reaction to the updated Wynn futures on the Derby. RFRP is sponsored by TVG and ForHims.com/Racing.

With the Kentucky Derby field pretty well set, we launch into three weeks of previews on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Eclipse Award-winning writer and handicapper John Scheinman will discuss his long-range views on the 3-year-old crop and specific horses in the Derby itself. Tim Layden pays tribute to his predecessor as Sports Illustrated’s turf writer with a look back on the life of the late Bill Nack, who died last Friday. Feedback from listeners via social media is also included this week. The RFRP is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

With Saturday being the last day of Kentucky Derby preps, the Ron Flatter Racing Pod takes a long view of the 3-year-olds and previews the Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes. Hall of Fame jockey Víctor Espinoza, who will ride Bolt d’Oro in Kentucky, is our featured guest. And Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free analyzes some of the top contenders on the Derby trail. The racing flashback remembers trainer Charlie Whittingham on what would have been his 105th birthday. The RFRP is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

It’s the biggest weekend of preps for the Kentucky Derby, and we preview the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes and Santa Anita Derby on The Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin discusses his Wood Memorial favorite Enticed, his 3-year-old fillies vying for the Kentucky Oaks and the milestones in his career working for Godolphin and dealing with multiple sclerosis. Daily Racing Form handicapper Mike Watchmaker breaks down all three of Saturday’s preps, looks at the domino effect with Bob Baffert’s Derby contenders and engages in a critical discussion of Mendelssohn’s victory last week in the UAE Derby. The racing flashback remembers the 1993 Grand National in England that formally never was, and Ron reveals a delicious irony about what could happen late this year for Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. The Ron Flatter Racing Pod is sponsored by ForHims.com/racing.

The Florida Derby and Dubai World Cup night beckon this weekend, and both are previewed on this edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Jonathan Thomas, who trains Catholic Boy, talks about his chances of winning the Florida Derby against his old bosses Todd Pletcher and Dale Romans. Track announcer Craig Evans checks in from the Middle East to discuss his first time calling the Dubai World Cup program, including an in-depth look at each of the eight thoroughbred races on the $30 million card. The racing flashback recalls the birth of Man O’ War, and Ron offers a strange story of his one and only trip to Dubai. The Ron Flatter Racing Pod is sponsored by ForHims.com/Racing.

We preview this weekend’s Kentucky Derby points preps on this edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Fair Grounds handicapper Joe Kristufek talks about the Louisiana Derby as well as his varied role as a racing ambassador, including an inexpensive path for anyone to become a thoroughbred owner. Actress/singer Anita Gillette remembers how she became a horse racing fan, including her visits to the track with the late Jack Klugman and the time she printed her own tout sheet. The Sunland Derby also gets a preview, and our racing flashback recalls a groundbreaking win for jockey Rosie Napravnik. This week’s RFRP is sponsored by Hims – log on to forhims.com/racing.

Saturday’s Rebel Stakes and last weekend’s controversial San Felipe Stakes are the main topics of the latest Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens discusses his ride in the Rebel, his reaction to the disqualification of McKinzie and promotion of Bolt d’Oro at Santa Anita and what he thinks will happen with racing if and when sports gambling is legalized nationwide. Former National Horseplayers Championship winner Michael Beychok also previews the Rebel as well as the Jeff Ruby (Spiral), reacts to the San Felipe and discusses thoroughbred aftercare as well as the famous person who got him hooked on racing. The flashback looks at an undefeated mare from the 19th century, we also look at Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Margarita, and we have some thoughts about a proposal to split the Breeders’ Cup into a November-December event.

Trainer Dale Romans and VSiN writer/handicapper Dave Tuley are the guests on this week's edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Romans discusses the horses he has on the Kentucky Derby trail, including 18-1 Fountain of Youth winner Promises Fulfilled, Gotham Stakes favorite Free Drop Billy and Tampa Bay Derby contender Tiz Mischief. Tuley breaks down Saturday's feature prep - the San Felipe with McKinzie and Bolt d'Oro - as well as the Gotham, the Tampa Bay Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap. He also discusses the growth in media coverage of sports gambling, an area he helped pioneer. We celebrate the 55th birthday of jockey Gary Stevens, and we check some of the feedback from our Tweet that questioned where Australian super mare Winx ranked on the world stage.