Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast | Memorial Weekend Preview

May 22, 2026

Napoleon Solo was back to his brilliant best in the Preakness (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Napoleon Solo Delivers in the Preakness — And the Summer Season Takes Shape at Churchill Downs

On this Memorial Day weekend edition of Inside Churchill Downs, Kevin Kirstein and Darren Rogers recap a pivotal Preakness Stakes and look ahead to a loaded stretch of summer racing in Louisville.

The headline from last weekend was clear: Napoleon Solo answered every question.

After a spring campaign that left some handicappers skeptical, the Grade 1 Champagne winner returned to top form in the 151st Preakness Stakes, delivering a polished performance under Paco Lopez. Tracking an unpressured pace, Napoleon Solo settled beautifully before turning back challenges in the stretch to secure the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

The discussion dives into the race’s shape — a moderate, controlled tempo that defied expectations of a pace meltdown. For many bettors, it was a reminder of a timeless handicapping lesson: when everyone expects speed to collapse, sometimes nobody pushes the button. Hats off to trainer Chad Summers and owner Al Gold for a plan executed to perfection.

With the Belmont Stakes approaching at Saratoga and several Derby alumni still in play — including Golden Tempo, Renegade, and Ocelli — the Triple Crown picture remains compelling. Meanwhile, others may regroup for marquee summer targets like the Haskell.

Back at Churchill Downs, the momentum rolls straight into a strong Memorial Day weekend slate.

Saturday features the $250,000 Keertana Stakes on the turf, while Monday’s highlight is the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes, a competitive sprint for older fillies and mares that includes Baffert’s Usha cutting back in distance.

The episode also previews the increasingly important Stephen Foster Stakes, now elevated to a $2 million purse. Early buzz suggests a blockbuster lineup could include last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, Dubai World Cup hero Magnitude, and battle-tested veterans like White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking. With Breeders’ Cup implications and national television coverage, Foster Day is shaping up as one of the summer’s marquee events.

Elsewhere on the Churchill turf, Burnham Square continues to strengthen his case as North America’s top turf marathoner after a dominant Louisville Stakes victory — a reminder that the stars are staying in Kentucky this season.

From Triple Crown recaps to summer showdowns and holiday handicapping angles, this episode captures the rhythm of late spring racing — where storylines shift quickly and the road to the Breeders’ Cup begins to take shape.

Watch the full episode for pace breakdowns, Belmont projections, Stephen Foster insights, and Kevin and Darren’s Memorial Day weekend picks.