Flatter Pod: Wolfendale, Shirreffs, Levitch talk Belmont

The Belmont Stakes 2025 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 hard-core handicappers pop-up episode featuring analysis of every horse in the Belmont is still available.

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.