2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Final Major Preps This Weekend

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 we head into the last major weekend of preps:

Current Standings

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 (4/5) 

• Doppelgänger – He looks to be a step below, finishing fourth in a weak running of the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Epicenter – He’s proven to be a stud for this team, picking up his most impressive victory yet in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
• White Abarrio – Yet another stud on this team as he showed great determination to win the Florida Derby (G1).
• Strava – He lost against allowance company in his most recent start once again as the team would really like to move on from him; however, they keep losing shakes. Big surprise.
• Gilded Age – He was nowhere to be found in the UAE Derby (G2).

2. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (9/5) 

• Secret Oath – The filly didn’t embarrass herself; however, she could do no better than third in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Morello – The newest member of the team looks legit after winning the Gotham Stakes (G3) with a solid 96 Beyer. We’ll see him this weekend in the Wood Memorial (G2).
• Early Voting – This third-round pick came through with a solid victory in the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. We’ll also seem him this weekend in the Wood Memorial (G2).
• Classic Causeway – Yikes, not sure what happened in the Florida Derby (G1), but he stopped badly.
• In Due Time – He ran well to finish second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and seems to be getting better with each start. We’ll seem him again either next weekend in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) or in the Lexington Stakes (G3) the week after.

3. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (8/1) 

• Zandon – His third in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) was a solid start to his season. We’ll see if he can move forward off of that effort in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• My Prankster – He was very impressive in the Swale Stakes (G3); however, it looks like they’ll probably keep him sprinting.
• Ethereal Road – The newest member of this team is improving with each start for D. Wayne Lukas. We’ll see him next in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• Cyberknife – Boom! This team picked up a massive win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) to propel up the rankings.
• Chasing Time – He has went backwards with back to back poor efforts.

4. Kelby Von Hemel (12/1)

• Blackadder – The newest claim made a nice rally down the lane to win the El Camino Real Derby last time out. He’s on target for the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• Rattle N Roll – He improved in the Louisiana Derby (G2) but could do no better than fourth.
• Call Me Midnight – He was right behind Rattle N Roll in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
• Pinehurst – The distance finally got to this horse as he was eased in the UAE Derby (G2).
• Forbidden Kingdom – You can’t find much wrong with his two-turn debut as he dominated his rivals in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). We’ll see him next in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) this weekend.

5. Real Dynasty (12/1)

• 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.

6. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (20/1)

• Smile Happy – It was a disappointing second for him in the Risen Star Stakes (G2); however, he ran well and should move forward off of that race in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• 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 – He’s been transferred over to Tim Yakteen, but who knows where he’ll run next.
• American Icon – It’s never good when you lose against allowance horses. They’ve hit the reset button with him.

7. Geist (20/1)

• Mo Donegal – Even though he was third in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), it was a solid effort and will set him up well for his next start in the Wood Memorial (G2) this weekend.
• 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 ended up being a solid claim after he finished second in the Gotham Stakes (G3). We might see him back this weekend in a sprint stakes.
• 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 – Can he bounce back from a poor effort that ended his 2021 season? He hasn’t had a work in quite a while.

8. Aaron Halterman (30/1)

• Jack Christopher – He’s basically worthless in this league, as it looks like he won’t be back anytime soon, but at least he is back on the work tab.
• Messier – Now we’re talking! Messier crushed the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), receiving a crop-best 103 Beyer for the victory. Plus, he’s now with trainer Tim Yakteen, which means he can earn points in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) this weekend.
• Unpredictable Bay – He was beyond bad in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).
• Sir London – He sucked something fierce in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).
• We the People – He completely no-showed in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

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

• Barese – The newest member of the team did not enter the Gotham Stakes (G3) as expected, but is reportedly pointing towards the Wood Memorial (G2) this weekend.
• Slow Down Andy – The Savior!! Slow Down Andy won the Sunland Derby (G3) to bring this team out of last place.
• Major General – Really really bad in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
• 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).

10. Jared Welch (50/1) 

• Emmanuel – Nothing went right in his stakes debut as he was off the board in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). He’ll try again in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• Commandperformance – LOL watch this.
• Taiba – He was ultra-impressive in a maiden special weight victory at Santa Anita, but it’s late in the game, so we’ll see if he can make an impact in this league.
• Stellar Tap – He couldn’t even win an allowance at Oaklawn Park.
• Wit – It looks like we might finally see him back this weekend in a one-turn sprint.