The Belmont Stakes rematch of this year’s classic winners Sovereignty and Journalism is the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Maggie Wolfendale-Morley from New York Racing Association TV and Fox Sports is at Saratoga, where she paints the scene for this second year the Belmont migrates to its home away from home. She offers a snapshot of the race with some angles that might not be so obvious to handicappers.

Trainer John Shirreffs discusses Baeza, who has all the makings of the wise-guy horse in this year’s Belmont field. He also extolls the virtues of Saratoga, particularly as a haven for horses.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has advice on how to bet an all-Grade 1 trio of races, namely the Woody Stephens, the Manhattan and the Belmont Stakes. The hard-core handicappers Johnny Avello, Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland have bonus picks for Saturday’s Saratoga undercard.

Co-host John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times joins in the reading of audience feedback to last week’s column pining for a Kentucky Derby victor to win again, just as Mystik Dan did last Saturday in the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

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.

Deep analysis of every horse in Belmont Stakes 2025 is ready to hear now from the hard-core handicappers in their latest pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Horse Racing Nation handicappers Mark Midland and Ed DeRosa are joined by DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello. They go through the entire field, 1 through 8, including Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness winner Journalism.

How will they play the two classic winners, and how short is too short to bet them to win or in exotics? How will the wise-guy status of Baeza or the presence of Bob Baffert with Rodríguez skew the odds? Who are the pretenders amid the contenders? Where is the value? How will the horses take to the track at Saratoga? The panel answers all those questions.

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.

A preliminary look at next week’s running of Belmont Stakes 2025 and a preview of this weekend’s return of Kentucky Derby 2024 winner Mystik Dan to Churchill Downs are the centers of attention on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

From the New York Racing Association and Fox Sports, former jockey Richard Migliore offers his perspective on the Triple Crown and how the rematch of Sovereignty and Journalism might unfold next Saturday. He also offers his thoughts about Júnior Alvarado, Umberto Rispoli and their winning rides in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and all the controversy that went with them.

Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna to triumphs last year in the Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, discusses both horses and their upcoming races. He focuses most of his attention on Saturday’s running of the Blame Stakes (G3), where Mystik Dan tries to get his first victory since last year’s Derby.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has some early thoughts about the Belmont Stakes and specific tips for the Arlington (G3), Blame and Regret (G3) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Co-host John Cherwa from the Los Angeles Times joins in the feedback from listeners and readers reacting to the death of trainer Christophe Clément.

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