The first of the virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifiers for Kentucky
Derby 2025 arrives Saturday with the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds
in New Orleans. That is where the spotlight is focused for this week’s Ron
Flatter Racing Pod.

Trainer Brendan Walsh discusses morning-line favorite East Avenue,
who carried two open-lengths victories into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. That
was where a stumbling start doomed him to finish off the board. Walsh discusses
how the 3-year-old Godolphin homebred colt has been doing since his
disappointment at Del Mar and how he hopes East Avenue’s Grade 1-winning form
will show itself again.

Fair Grounds track announcer John G. Dooley checks out East Avenue
and other contenders in the Risen Star as well as undefeated Good Cheer, who
will be favored to win the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) first-place
qualifying points that go with it.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty offers handicapping tips for
the Risen Star and two turf stakes in New Orleans, including the Fair Grounds
Stakes presented by Horse Racing Nation (G3) and the Colonel Power
sprint.

Listener and reader feedback is focused on the Florida bill that
would allow Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to decouple their Thoroughbred
and gaming licenses, opening the door for either track to stop racing while
still running their slot machines and poker tables.

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.