2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Risen Star 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 we head into the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• In a 5-way shake Paul CLAIMED Charge It and DROPPED In Dreams

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 (3/1) 

• 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 prove to be very elite, very talented when stretching out.
• 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. We’ll see him this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
• White Abarrio – His Holy Bull Stakes (G3) victory was very impressive and he received a solid 97 Beyer for the effort.
• 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. We’ll see him try routing against allowance horses this weekend at Fair Grounds.
• Gilded Age – His first try against stakes company wasn’t awful, finishing third in the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.

2. Real Dynasty (7/2)

• 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). He’s entered this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.
• Newgrange – He wasn’t overly impressive, but he seemed to hate the Oaklawn Park track and still won the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Simplification – The newest member of the team ran well to finish second in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) despite a horrendous trip.
• 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. Cox has entered him in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend.

3. Aaron Halterman (4/1)

• 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 – Now we’re talking! Messier crushed the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), receiving a crop-best 103 Beyer for the victory.
• 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).
• Kid Corleone – He beat Sir London in a maiden special weight score at Del Mar last time out; however, that no longer looks like a big deal, plus we still haven’t seen a work from him in a while.

4. Jared Welch (5/1) 

• 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. He is now back on the workout tab as well.
• 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. Let’s see where he ends up next as he is now back on the workout tab.

5. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (6/1)

• 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 this weekend.
• Charge It – Paul won this promising prospect in a 5-way shake. Look for him in a Kentucky Derby prep race next.
• 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? She’s currently working at Fair Grounds.
• 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 – It’s never good when you lose against allowance horses; however, it wasn’t a completely awful effort and he should continue toward a Kentucky Derby prep next.

6. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (8/1) 

• Corniche – He began 2022 as the clubhouse leader after an impressive 3-for-3 campaign as a 2-year-old, but he’s still on vacation in Kentucky. It’s officially starting to get worrisome that he has not shown up on the work tab.
• Tiz the Bomb – His dirt attempt in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) ended up being a total disaster.
• Early Voting – This third-round pick came through with a solid victory in the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.
• Classic Causeway – Even though he set a fast pace, he drew away in the stretch, putting up a very nice victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).
• Wharton – The newest claim for this team was third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3); however, he was a long ways away from the winner.

7. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (10/1) 

• 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. We’ll see what he does this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.
• My Prankster – He was very impressive in the Swale Stakes (G3); however, it looks like they’ll probably keep him sprinting.
• Trafalgar – He wasn’t bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), but could do no better than fourth in that race. He’s entered this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
• Cyberknife – He, on the other hand, was bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and could do no worse if he fell over and made angels in the dirt. Let’s see if he bounces back against allowance company this weekend at Fair Grounds.
• Chasing Time – Wow, this horse woke up in a big way last time out, dominating an allowance field at Oaklawn Park. The Rebel Stakes (G2) is next.

8. Kelby Von Hemel (20/1)

• Giant Game – His Holy Bull Stakes (G3) was a total disaster.
• 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 tab 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 solid race.
• Forbidden Kingdom – This horse looked ultra-impressive in his gate to wire victory in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).

9. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (30/1) 

• 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 did return to the work tab on 2/11 at Keeneland.
• Slow Down Andy – He wasn’t overly impressive, but his Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) win was a big improvement that looks even better considering the runner-up that race won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) next.
• 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 team’s newest claim was working well down in Florida; however, he missed the Swale Stakes (G3) after spiking a fever.
• Spin Wheel – The Holy Bull Stakes (G3) did not go his way; however, he is better suited for longer races and perhaps at a different track. If only Mahoning Valley had a Derby prep.

10. Geist (50/1)

• 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.
• Make It Big – He was pretty disappointing in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).
• 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.
• 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 a while.
• 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.