2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Belmont Week = Championship Week

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 Belmont Stakes (G1) this weekend. Remember, the league ends as soon as the Belmont is finished, and just 2 teams have a shot at the title, making Saturday a championship showdown:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• In a 3-way shake: Real Dynasty CLAIMED Nest and DROPPED Simplification
• Michael/Dan CLAIMED Golden Glider and DROPPED Major General

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 (1/9) 

• Doppelgänger – The 1st round pick hasn’t made much of an impact all year, but if he somehow wins the Affirmed Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, then they will have officially clinched the championship.
• Epicenter – There is no doubt he suffered two heart-breaking losses; however, he’s likely done enough to win this team a championship.
• 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… picking up a big 5-point win in an allowance at Churchill Downs.
• Gilded Age – He scratched out of a turf race after entering as an MTO and now likely won’t make another appearance before the league ends Saturday.

2. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (8/5)

• Secret Oath – She was solid in the Preakness Stakes (G1); however, she just couldn’t quite get up for third.
• 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 – Boom! This team made a great draft pick way back in December with this horse and it paid off with his impressive victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• 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 (99/1) 

• 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 – The Sir Barton Stakes winner will miss the Belmont Stakes (G1) due to a quarter crack.
• 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 (99/1)

• Pappacap – This horse improved by 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 bled in the Preakness Stakes (G1), which is something you never want to see. Good thing we don’t let horses use Lasix in stakes races… what a joke! WAKE UP, HORSE RACING!
• 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 (99/1)

• Mo Donegal – He fell just short of hitting the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite getting a perfect setup. However, he’s the likely favorite in the Belmont Stakes (G1) this weekend.
• 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. We’ll see him again this weekend in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
• Gunite – He came back last weekend; however, was only able to finish second in an allowance at Churchill Downs.

6. Jared Welch (99/1) 

• Emmanuel – Just like Jared planned all along… he was able to win the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2) on turf!
• 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 was nowhere to be found in a recent Churchill Downs allowance race.
• 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 (99/1)

• 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). We’ll see if he can make it 2 in a row this weekend.

8. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (99/1)

• 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 (99/1)

• Blackadder – He was a no-show in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and skipped the Preakness Stakes (G1) despite holding an automatic berth.
• Rattle N Roll – Big surprise, he couldn’t even win an allowance at Churchill Downs.
• Call Me Midnight – He was basically nowhere to be found in the Lexington Stakes (G3).
• Armagnac – This claim didn’t work out so great for him as he was nowhere to be found in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Creative Minister – However, this claim did work out well for him, as he was third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and is now headed to the Belmont Stakes (G1) this weekend.

10. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (99/1) 

• 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 highly disappointed again on the turf last weekend.
• 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.