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2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Kentucky Derby Now Looms Large
Zandon (Keeneland Photo)

2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Kentucky Derby Now Looms Large

Each week, this important article will provide the standings, power rankings, and recent transactions for every league member. Not only will you see the latest claims in the league (which will show you what horses might be up-and-coming), but you will also get updates on the Kentucky Derby contenders as they prepare for their next starts along the Kentucky Derby Trail.

Let’s check the updates and see the latest news on all 50 horses in the league as the Kentucky Derby preps are now complete:

Current Standings

RankTeamScore Current Team Members
1The Magic Mike Show337Doppelgänger, Epicenter, White Abarrio, Strava, Gilded Age
2Jon White/Ryan Stillman251Secret Oath, Tawny Port, Early Voting, Rich Strike, In Due Time
3Geist 206Mo Donegal, Make It Big, Dean's List, Barber Road, Gunite
4Austin Elsey/Evil Steveil 173Zandon, My Prankster, Ethereal Road, Cyberknife, Chasing Time
5Real Dynasty 151Pappacap, Crown Pride, Nest, Tiz the Bomb, Zozos
6Aaron Halterman102Jack Christopher, Messier, Unpredictable Bay, Sir London, We the People
7Jared Welch 96Emmanuel, Commandperformance, Taiba, Stellar Tap, Wit
8Kelby Von Hemel67Blackadder, Rattle N Roll, Call Me Midnight, Armagnac, Creative Minister
9Paul Withrow 65Smile Happy, Charge It, Echo Zulu, McLaren Vale, American Icon
10Dan Waite/Michael Myers3Set Sail, Slow Down Andy, Golden Glider, High Oak, Electability

Recent Claims

  • No claims to announce this week.

Power Rankings

The “Power Rankings” feature teams’ odds to win the contest, as well as an update on every horse on each team. Here we go:

1. The Magic Mike Show (1/2) 

2. Jared Welch (5/2) 

  • Emmanuel – He ran better in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but still finished third. He is moving to the turf after that performance.
  • Commandptaibaerformance – They gave him another shot in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but he still was not able to make an impact.
  • Taiba – This team now has a shot to win the league after this horse picked up an ultra-impressive victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
  • Stellar Tap – He couldn’t even win an allowance at Oaklawn Park.
  • Wit – He came back with a pretty solid victory in the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. It was nice to see him finally break well from the gate.

3. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (5/1) 

  • Zandon – This team is on FIRE after his super impressive Blue Grass Stakes (G1) victory.
  • My Prankster – He ran poorly at Keeneland in the Lafayette Stakes.
  • Ethereal Road – He was better in the Lexington Stakes (G3); however, he still could do no better than fourth.
  • Cyberknife – Boom! This team picked up a massive win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) to propel up the rankings.
  • Chasing Time – He has gone backwards with back-to-back poor efforts.

4. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (20/1) 

5. Geist (20/1)

  • Mo Donegal – He lived up the hype with an impressive last to first victory in the Wood Memorial (G2).
  • Make It Big – He was pretty disappointing in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). It looks like he is now off the Derby Trail.
  • Dean’s List – This horse did not run well at Aqueduct in the Bay Shore Stakes (G3).
  • Barber Road – He did what he always does in the Arkansas Derby (G1), which is come up and hit the board with a late run. This has been a solid claim.
  • Gunite – He’s finally back on the work tab with breezes at Churchill Downs.

6. Real Dynasty (20/1)

  • Pappacap – This horse improved in the Florida Derby (G1) but was still only able to manage a fourth-place effort. The Pat Day Mile (G2) is reportedly his target.
  • Crown Pride – We’ll see if the UAE Derby (G2) winner can make an impact in the United States this season. It has not worked well in the past.
  • Simplification – He put up a solid effort in the Florida Derby (G1); however, he could do no better than third.
  • Un Ojo – He was nowhere to be found in the Arkansas Derby (G1), but he cut his shoulder during the race, which gives him a legit excuse.
  • Zozos – The recent claim did what Real Dynasty hoped he would: run well enough to finish second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and head to Kentucky next.

7. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (30/1)

  • Smile Happy – He looked solid in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), finishing second, but was no match for the winner.
  • Charge It – Paul won this promising prospect in a 5-way shake, and the horse came through for him in the Florida Derby (G1) with a nice runner-up effort.
  • Echo Zulu – She’s back, and she’s a winner, but the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) was too close for comfort.
  • McLaren Vale – Yikes, he was not good at all in an allowance race at Santa Anita
  • American Icon – It’s never good when you lose against allowance horses. They’ve hit the reset button with him.

8. Kelby Von Hemel (50/1)

9. Aaron Halterman (50/1)

10. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (50/1) 

  • Barese – He was nowhere to be found in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).
  • Slow Down Andy – The Savior!! Slow Down Andy won the Sunland Derby (G3) to bring this team out of last place. However, he will miss the Kentucky Derby (G1), which is a downer for sure.
  • Major General – This horse ran fairly well in the Lexington Stakes (G3), which is a step in the right direction.
  • High Oak – You always hate to see a horse fall, but the good news is he is reportedly unharmed by the incident from the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).
  • Spin Wheel – Even worse than really really bad in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

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