This week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod has three main subjects, five races to handicap and one embarrassing admission.

Eclipse Award winner Fierceness headlines Saturday’s four Kentucky Derby points preps. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher talks about the champion colt’s 2024 debut in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Todd also discusses two of his other prominent 3-year-olds who are Derby contenders.

Bob Baffert’s announcement that he will not have any of his horses in the Derby gets the once-over. Co-host John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times had an exclusive interview with Baffert that was the focal point of his report this week. He and Ron discuss what the absence of the Baffert horses will mean to his year’s Derby.

The tenuous future of Turf Paradise in Phoenix is discussed by Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Leroy Gessmann. How California’s uncertain racing picture affects his state is also grist for the conversation.

Paddock Prince David Levitch has tips for the Holy Bull, the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita plus an allowance race that caught his attention.

Ron confesses that he completely missed Camila Cabello in the paddock last weekend on Pegasus day, even though he walked right past her three times.

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