2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Preakness Week Is Here

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 is now complete:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

There are two claims to announce this week:

• Kelby Von Hemel CLAIMED Armagnac and DROPPED Pinehurst
• Kelby Von Hemel CLAIMED Creative Minister and DROPPED Forbidden Kingdom

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 (1/5) 

• Doppelgänger – He made no impact again, this time in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Epicenter – It was a heartbreaking loss for him in the Kentucky Derby (G1); however, he has proven to be the MVP of this league so far. We’ll see him this weekend in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• White Abarrio – The Kentucky Derby (G1) was not his day; however, he was great for this team overall, winning 2 big preps.
• Strava – He’s the gift that finally gave… as he earned 1 point for “running” in the Lexington Stakes (G3).
• Gilded Age – He was nowhere to be found in the UAE Derby (G2) but has resumed training at Belmont Park. Could the Belmont Stakes (G1) be in the cards?

2. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (7/2) 

• Secret Oath – The filly won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and is now pointing towards the Preakness Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• Tawny Port – He wasn’t awful in the Kentucky Derby (G1); however, he couldn’t run well enough to make much of an impact.
• Early Voting – It was a heartbreaking loss for him in the Wood Memorial (G2), losing the lead late and finishing second. He’s pointing towards the Preakness Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• Rich Strike – This team claimed the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner with the hopes that he’ll keep his Cinderella story going in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
• In Due Time – He was very average in the Lexington Stakes (G3), finishing a lackluster third as the favorite.

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

• Zandon – He was right there with a chance to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) but just couldn’t quite get there.
• My Prankster – He was much improved in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Ethereal Road – He scratched out of the Kentucky Derby (G1), which allowed Rich Strike to run and win!
• Cyberknife – This horse was nowhere to be found in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Chasing Time – He has gone backwards with back-to-back poor efforts.

4. Real Dynasty (50/1)

• Pappacap – This horse improved cutting back in distance, finishing second in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Crown Pride – He did what all UAE Derby (G2) runners do in the Kentucky Derby (G1): NOTHING.
• Simplification – He put up a solid effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing fourth. We’ll see him again this weekend in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Un Ojo – He ended up skipping the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Preakness Stakes (G1) with a minor foot injury.
• Zozos – The pace hurt his chances; however, he wasn’t awful in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

5. Geist (50/1)

• Mo Donegal – He fell just short of hitting the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite getting a perfect setup.
• Make It Big – He was pretty disappointing in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and fell off the Derby Trail.
• Dean’s List – He most recently lost the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park.
• Barber Road – He did what he always does in the Kentucky Derby (G1), showing up with a run, but not good enough to make an impact.
• Gunite – He’s finally back on the work tab with breezes at Churchill Downs.

6. Jared Welch (50/1) 

• Emmanuel – He ran better in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but still finished third. He is moving to the turf after that performance.
• Commandperformance – They gave him another shot in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but he still was unable to make an impact.
• Taiba – The clock struck midnight as he didn’t show up with his best effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Stellar Tap – He couldn’t even make an impact in the Oaklawn Stakes; however, at least he earned 1 participation point for his Fantasy owner.
• 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.

7. Aaron Halterman (50/1)

• Jack Christopher – Hooray! The team’s #1 pick came back a winner in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Messier – A hot pace burned him up in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Unpredictable Bay – This horse is starting to run better; however, he still is yet to pick up a victory this year.
• Sir London – He sucked something fierce in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).
• We the People – This guy became a player for the Belmont Stakes (G1) after a romp in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3).

8. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (50/1)

• Smile Happy – He wasn’t awful; however, he couldn’t make an impact in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Charge It – The Kentucky Derby (G1) was a disaster for him.
• Echo Zulu – She ran well; however, she couldn’t finish the deal in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
• McLaren Vale – Yikes, he’s not good.
• American Icon – It’s never good when you lose against allowance horses. They hit the reset button with him after just 2 starts.

9. Kelby Von Hemel (50/1)

• Blackadder – He was a no-show in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and is not under consideration for the Preakness Stakes (G1) despite holding an automatic berth.
• Rattle N Roll – Big surprise, he was nowhere to be found again in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
• Call Me Midnight – He was basically nowhere to be found in the Lexington Stakes (G3).
• Armagnac – This team will roll the dice with this horse hoping to get immediate Preakness Stakes (G1) points.
• Creative Minister – The team also claimed this horse with the same hopes of getting immediate points in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

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

• Set Sail – LOL.
• Slow Down Andy – He won the Sunland Derby (G3) to bring this team out of last place temporarily, but missing the Kentucky Derby (G1) helped send this team back down to the bottom.
• Major General – This horse was awful in the Pat Day Mile (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).
• Electability – Double LOL.