2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Multiple Kentucky Derby Preps Next

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 a big weekend of prep races:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

There are no claims to report 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. Real Dynasty (4/1)

• Pappacap – He returned to the races doing what he normally does: hit the board against graded stakes company with a third-place effort in the Lecomte Stakes (G3).
• Newgrange – He wasn’t overly impressive, but he seemed to hate the Oaklawn Park track and still won the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Home Brew – He was a complete no-show in a poor Smarty Jones Stakes performance at Oaklawn Park. He has worked well since that effort, though.
• Varatti – This impressive maiden special weight winner at Belmont Park in September finally returned to the work tab on January 17 and is reportedly aiming for an early March return at either Gulfstream Park or Tampa Bay Downs.
• Tawny Port – He made it 2 for 2 with a narrow allowance win at Turfway Park. He recently put up a work at Fair Grounds, signaling that he has moved tracks.

2. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (9/2) 

• Corniche – He’s the clubhouse leader after an impressive 3-for-3 campaign as a 2-year-old but is still on vacation in Kentucky.
• Tiz the Bomb – He’s great on the turf, but we don’t know what he will look like on dirt until he tries it in 2022. He has returned to the track and put in a solid work last weekend. Look for him in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) this weekend.
• Early Voting – Chad Brown won with this horse on debut at Aqueduct in impressive fashion. He is one to watch off of that effort. He is probable for the Withers Stakes (G3) this weekend.
• Classic Causeway – He’s lost a couple of tough races, but his early speed makes him dangerous and there’s room for improvement. Look for him next weekend in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).
• Wharton – The newest claim for this team was a sharp maiden special weight winner on debut for Bob Baffert. We’ll likely see him this weekend in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).

3. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (5/1)

• Smile Happy – He’s been good so far, picking up 2 easy wins as he eyes his 2022 debut in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds. He’s put in strong works.
• In Dreams – A recent allowance win at Oaklawn Park has hopes high for this horse who fired a bullet workout on 1/16.
• Echo Zulu – She might be the best overall 2-year-old in the crop, but will they try her against the boys? And will she come back just as strong as a 3-year-old? We haven’t seen a work from her in quite a while now.
• McLaren Vale – He was third in his stakes debut last time out, which came in a pretty tough version of the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita
• American Icon – The newest addition to the team was a sharp debut winner at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher and is scheduled to run on Friday in an allowance race at Gulfstream.

4. Jared Welch (6/1) 

• Emmanuel – He looked very impressive in an allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs. Stakes company will definitely be next for him.
• Commandperformance – He’s still a maiden but faced top-level competition as a 2-year-old. However, will still haven’t seen a work from him.
• Rockefeller – He disappointed with a distant second in the Sham Stakes (G3).
• Stellar Tap – This horse could do no better than third in a recent allowance race at Fair Grounds.
• Wit – He has terrible trouble out of the gate but has talent and should do well going longer. However, we haven’t seen a work from him in a long time.

5. The Magic Mike Show (6/1) 

• Doppelgänger – Everyone’s favorite team’s top pick was a disappointing fourth in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), likely because his poor trainer was too busy answering questions in New York to properly prepare him. He still earned a solid speed figure, even with the world against him, and he will most definitely succeed when stretching outhausen.
• Epicenter – Even though he lost in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), it was still a game effort, and he still is very much in the mix when it comes to the division leaders.
• White Abarrio – We’ll see if this Saffie Joseph Jr. runner can make some noise on the Florida circuit. He has a steady work pattern at Gulfstream Park and will likely start in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) this weekend.
• Strava – He lost against allowance company in his most recent start but was still a solid second at a distance that was probably too short for him.
• Gilded Age – It took him a while to break the maiden, but he did it nicely last time out for Bill Mott. He’s probable for the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct this weekend.

6. Kelby Von Hemel (8/1)

• Giant Game – The Dale Romans trainee ran ok in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and should like going longer. He is working out like a monster in South Florida. Let’s see if he can back it up this weekend in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3).
• Rattle N Roll – He could be one to keep an eye on in 2022 – if he returns strong from injury. We finally saw him back on the work tap on 1/22 at Gulfstream Park, which is a good sign.
• Call Me Midnight – The newest member of this team was an impressive last-to-first winner of the Lecomte Stakes (G3).
• Pinehurst – He was a strong second in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), which ended up being a pretty strong race.
• Forbidden Kingdom – This horse looked ultra-impressive in his gate to wire victory in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).

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

• Zandon – This horse ran well in his two-turn debut last time out, finishing second in the Remsen Stakes (G2), and is now with Chad Brown’s main string in Florida. It looks like the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds will be his 2022 debut.
• My Prankster – He has a lot of ability and picked up a recent allowance win at Gulfstream Park. He is likely for the Swale Stakes (G3) this weekend at Gulfstream Park.
• Trafalgar – He wasn’t bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), but could do no better than fourth in that race.
• Cyberknife – He, on the other hand, was bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and could do no worse if he fell over and made snow angels in the dirt.
• Chasing Time – Wow, this horse woke up in a big way last time out, dominating an allowance field at Oaklawn Park.

8. Aaron Halterman (10/1)

• Jack Christopher – One of the most talented horses in the group heads into 2022 not knowing if he can handle two turns. Also, can he return quickly enough from his injury? Chad Brown recently hinted that making the Derby is a longshot.
• Messier – His Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) effort was disappointing, but he will likely rebound for Bob Baffert. We should see him this weekend in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).
• Unpredictable Bay – It took a while to break his maiden, but he did it in style last time out and could be figuring things out. He has had three solid works at Tampa Bay.
• Sir London – His maiden special weight win at Los Alamitos last time out was very impressive. He has had a steady work tab at Santa Anita since that victory, and we should see him this weekend in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).
• Kid Corleone – He beat Sir London in a maiden special weight score at Del Mar last time out; however, we haven’t seen a work from him in nearly a month now.

9. Geist (12/1)

• Mo Donegal – We’ll see if the Remsen Stakes (G2) winner can actually make an impact on the Derby Trail this year. He’s aiming for the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park this weekend.
• Make It Big – We could see him this weekend in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) or next weekend in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
• Winning Map – At one time, he was a top contender, but he must rebound from a poor effort in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3). He fired a bullet workout at Santa Anita on 12/26, but has only had one work since that one.
• Nakatomi – Might be more of a sprinter, but his effort last time out at Keeneland was very strong. We also haven’t seen a work from him in awhile.
• Gunite – Let’s see if he can bounce back from a poor effort that ended his 2021 season. However, he also hasn’t had a work in quite a while.

10. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (15/1) 

• Rocket Dawg – Oh boy… he was dead last in the Gun Runner Stakes. Not what you want to see from your first round pick before the season even starts. He’s had zero works since that effort as well.
• Slow Down Andy – He wasn’t overly impressive, but his Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) win was a big improvement. He is reportedly bypassing the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) for an out-of-town next start.
• Major General – He went 2 for 2 in 2021 before missing several months, but he finally returned to the worktab in Florida on January 7. He’s reportedly looking at an early March return.
• High Oak – The teams newest claim is working well down in Florida; however, he will miss the Swale Stakes (G3) this weekend after spiking a fever.
• Spin Wheel – He looked solid breaking his maiden last time out at Churchill Downs, and seems to be pointing towards the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) this weekend.