Some early handicapping tips for Kentucky Derby 2024, an insider's look at one of the contenders in the race and some handicapping for this weekend's Preakness 2024 qualifiers are front and center on this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

National Horseplayers Championship winner Mike Gillum checks in from Indianapolis with his five horses whom he counts among the most likely winners of the Derby. Here is a hint. Two of them are not obvious choices. In other words, long shots.

Trainer Whit Beckman talks about Honor Marie, his first Derby horse in his name. He also remembers when he was an assistant on the teams that Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown led to past Derby accomplishments as Super Saver's 2010 win and Good Magic's 2018 runner-up result. He also discusses who may ride Honor Marie on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Mark Midland is in the handicappers rotation to offer his tips on the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, a Pick 3 that starts with the Bathhouse Row at Oaklawn and the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. The three stakes are win-and-you're-ins for the Preakness.

John Cherwa joins Ron to dissect the court ruling in favor of Churchill Downs Inc. in the Zedan Racing Stables' lawsuit that failed for now to get Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Muth and trainer Bob Baffert into next month's Kentucky Derby.

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.

For information on Sunday's Illinois Derby day handicapping contest, go to xpressbet.com/tournaments.