The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes are the last Grade 1 chances
for 3-year-old dirt routers to compete in their own divisions. With Thorpedo Anna among them, they will race for $1 million in each of those races Saturday
at Parx. That is the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.
Track announcer and sometimes handicapper Jessica Paquette provides
local insight into what could be a wide-open running of the Penn Derby
featuring red hot Dragoon Guard, Santa Anita Derby (G1) victor Stronghold and
Preakness winner Seize the Grey. She also will discuss Thorpedo Anna in the
Cotillion and staying phenom Next in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup (G3). There
also may be some talk about human marathons.
Trainer Phil D’Amato talks about Stronghold, who was a troubled
second to Dragoon Guard last out in the Indiana Derby (G3). He also has an
update on his undefeated filly Iscreamuscream.
Horse Racing Nation handicapper Mark Midland weighs
in with betting advice for four stakes on the Penn Derby card, including the
two Grade 1s. John Cherwa discusses the disgraced University of Kentucky
testing laboratory and helps distill the feedback about last week’s interview
with Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen.
One never knows, too, what may play after the closing credits, especially
since Cherwa had a hard time believing what costs 73 cents.
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.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Xpressbet, host of the
inaugural California Crown Betting Championship next Saturday. For details on
how to enter, go to xpressbet.com/tournaments.
Photo: Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire Jockey Mychel Sanchez will serve a seven-day suspension and pay an additional $1,750 in fines
Photo: Gulfstream Park / Lauren King Sovereignty, dramatic late-running winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, is being pointed
Photo: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo Cavalieri and Alpha Bella, who finished one-two in the Grade 3 La Cañada in January at Santa Anita,
Photo: Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire The stars will shine Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, and not just in the Grade 3 Tampa Ba