ITM Players' Newsletter - May 2, 2025
The word "Derby", it rings through my head. Derby... Derby... Derby...
I will keep this short, since this newsletter is long and loaded with Kentucky Derby content for your pleasure, education and consumption.
This is the weekend in horse racing. Everyone on our team has sharpened their mind pencils and dug through as much information possible to find the best ideas and plays not just for the Kentucky Derby, but also the Kentucky Oaks as well as many of the undercard races this weekend.
We got professional horseplayers Paul and Duke Matties for a Players’ Podcast roundtable on the Oaks & Derby cards and I did my annual show with NBC’s Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey to look at best bets for the Kentucky Derby. We just have a swath of handicapping content available for all of you, and of course I still have analyses available over on atheraces.com, including horse by horse race breakdowns for the:
So dive in and enjoy the fruits of our hard work. Hopefully they can help lead you to big paydays on one of the most wonderful betting weekends of the year!
MYWAYP,
PTF
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Live Longshots and Vulnerable Favorites for Oaks + Derby Day
Horse by Horse Analyses for Key Stakes Races
More exclusive Kentucky Derby content!
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Horseshoe Indianapolis /// Oaklawn /// Santa Anita /// Laurel Park
Players’ Podcast - Kentucky Oaks and Derby Pro Player Roundtable
PTF hosts Paul and Duke Matties as they give their thoughts onthe Kentucky Oaks and Derby cards.
Players’ Podcast - 2025 Kentucky Derby Players' Podcast LIVE from The Galt House
PTF & JK host a live Players' Podcast from The Galt House in Louisville, Ky. with a main focus of handicapping and finding good horse racing bets for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Players’ Podcast - 2025 ITM Kentucky Derby Simulcast Show
Spencer guest hosts for PTF and brings 3 amazing guests along with him: Marshall Sterling goes over the Santa Anita late pick 4, Ray Cotolo talks about the 100K guaranteed woodbine early pick 5 and Alex Henry goes over some exciting JRA G1 racing for after the Derby on Saturday night
Harness Players’ Podcast - 4/30/25 | Fraser Downs Closing Day Late Pick 4
Mikee P and Ray Cotolo preview harness racing action with the Fraser Downs Late Pick 4 for closing day of the winter-spring meet Friday (May 2). The two look for good horse racing bets in breaking down this sequence.
2025 Kentucky Derby Best Bets Show with Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey
PTF sits down with Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss of NBC to preview the award-winning NBC coverage of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby this weekend. Hear thoughts, tips, and analysis from the famed friends as they talk about all aspects of the Derby, from the likely favorites to the pace to historical trends to the effect of post positions. Who are the vulnerable favorites? Who are some live longshots? Watch to find out the answers to these questions and many more.
2025 Kentucky Oaks Preview | FINAL ANSWERS!!!
In The Money's PTF and JK, alongside NYRA analyst Maggie Wolfendale and Medallion Racing's Phillip Shelton, share their ideas for good horse racing bets and who the main contenders are for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks, which runs at Churchill Downs on Friday (May 2).
This clip is an excerpt from the ITM Live "Final Answers" show, taking place in Lexington, Ky. on Wednesday (April 30).
2025 Kentucky Derby Preview | FINAL ANSWERS!!!
In The Money's PTF and JK, alongside NYRA analyst Maggie Wolfendale and Medallion Racing's Phillip Shelton, share their ideas for good horse racing bets and who the main contenders are for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which runs at Churchill Downs on Saturday (May 3).
2025 Kentucky Derby FINAL ANSWERS - Presented by Medallion Racing | FULL SHOW
Your expert panel includes Jonathon Kinchen (Fox Sports & In The Money Media), champion horseplayer and renowned analyst; Peter Thomas Fornatale (PTF) from In The Money Media; Maggie Wolfendale, expert analyst from NYRA and Fox Sports; and Phillip Shelton, esteemed handicapper and key member of the Medallion Racing team.
Together, JK, PTF, Maggie, and Phillip will provide in-depth analysis, handicapping insights, and expert opinions on the weekend's marquee races. Don't miss the latest insights, race strategies, and lively discussions to guide your wagering decisions and enhance your racing experience!
Monster Pods
Burnham Square - Sandman - Journalism - Rodriguez - Tiztastic - Tappan Street - Sovereignty - Final Gambit - Coal Battle - Chunk of Gold - Citizen Bull - Owen Almighty - East Avenue - Publisher - American Promise - Flying Mohawk - Grande - Neoequos - Admire Daytona - Luxor Cafe - Baeza
A video compilation of ALL Kentucky Derby Monster Pods is also available for viewing below:
You can also click here for written analyses of each runner in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Who to BET from Kentucky Derby Workouts?
Kevin Kilroy has been out at Churchill Downs all week and reports on everything he’s seen with specific thoughts on Luxor Cafe, Admire Daytona, Sovereignty, Publisher, Burnham Square, Tiztastic and the Kentucky Derby favorite, Journalism. He gives positives and negatives and compares the Japanese contenders to those he’s seen in recent years. At the end, he gives his top five for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Watch to get unique insights as well as free tips, thoughts and analysis on this year’s Kentucky Derby, as well as to answer the question: Who to bet in the Kentucky Derby based on the workouts?
2025 Kentucky Derby PREVIEW | Equibase Race Lens
PTF and Matt Vagvolgyi use Equibase's Race Lens tool to analyze the 2025 Kentucky Derby field for betting strategies and other horse racing wagers and handicapping angles ahead of the First Saturday in May.
LONGSHOTS!!! - 2025 KENTUCKY DERBY - Vol. 2
JK and PTF return to break down four of their favorite longshots for the 2025 Kentucky Derby—potential game-changers that could help you hit a life-changing score on racing’s biggest day. Whether you’re playing to win or chasing massive exacta, trifecta, superfecta, or Super High Five paydays, longshots are essential for unlocking value in a wide-open 20-horse Derby field. In this episode, we revisit some early opinions from Volume 1, including whether JK is still sticking with East Avenue after the post position draw, and how the draw affected the boys' longshot strategies. Plus, PTF and JK offer up new longshot options to consider for your tickets.
Head 2 Head - JK vs PTF - 2025 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks
JK and PTF go head-to-head and each pick one horse in every stakes race on Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks weekend.
Races covered include: Distaff Mile, Pat Day Mile, Turf Sprint, Churchill Downs Stakes, American Turf, Derby City Distaff, Turf Classic, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Edgewood, Alysheba, La Troienne, Modesty, Eight Belles, and Unbridled Sydney.
How to make $100,000 at the 2025 Kentucky Derby!!!
In this video, JK and PTF delve into the exciting world of Kentucky Derby betting, focusing on the Super High 5 wager—a bet that offers the potential for life-changing payouts. They explore strategies to efficiently construct tickets that could lead to significant returns, emphasizing the importance of identifying longshots and structuring bets wisely.
2025 Kentucky Derby Pace Analysis
JK and PTF discuss the pace of the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Who will make the lead? East Avenue? Citizen Bull? Owen Almighty? Rodriguez? How will the pace help or hurt the favorites Journalism and Sovereignty?
BOLD Predictions - 2025 Kentucky Derby
JK and PTF make BOLD predictions about this year's KENTUCKY DERBY!
KING OF THE TRACK - Win A Share of $1,000,000
How to Play King of the Track!!!
King of the Track requires customers to opt in and place their qualifying bet of a ($5+) Win wager on a single horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Only the first straight single-horse Win wager on the Kentucky Derby placed after opt-in is eligible. Multi-Horse, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, and Multi-Race wagers are not eligible.
The official real-money handicapping tournament of the Kentucky Derby is the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge by TwinSpires!
Keep Triple Crown Fever running by hopping into the Preakness Future Wager! The Maryland Jockey Club is offering the Future Wager as part of a celebration for the 150th Preakness! Pool closes Saturday (May 3rd) at 6 p.m. (EDT). Check out the official website as well as our recent special newsletter post for more information.
The Owner’s Box - Episode 164 - Kentucky Derby 2025
An annual Kentucky Derby tradition! Billy and Michelle hit on this year's Contenders and Pretenders in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
On The Lead - A Stake in Stardom, Griffin Johnson’s Ride to the Kentucky Derby
Shannon Kelly and PTF are back with you for the most timely episode yet of the On the Lead podcast. They sit down with TikTok superstar Griffin Johnson, who owns Kentucky Derby contender Sandman in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds.
