2023 Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League Update: Instant Coffee Impresses in Lecomte Stakes

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 runners as they prepare for their next starts along the Kentucky Derby Trail. Let’s check out the latest update:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• Jon/Ryan CLAIMED Disarm and DROPPED Loggins

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. Aaron Halterman (4/1)

• Arabian Lion – He was worse than awful in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), finishing last. He’s been working well since that race, though, and we may seem him this weekend in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
• Victory Formation – He picked up a solid-looking victory in the Smarty Jones Stakes.
• Rudder’s Men – This much-hyped horse stopped badly and finished off the board in a recent Gulfstream Park allowance.
• Reincarnate – Boom! This horse picked up a huge win in the Sham Stakes (G3) at big odds. This was an unexpected bonus.
• Faustin – This recent maiden special weight winner could be a star once they stretch him out in distance. We may seem him this weekend in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).

2. Geist (9/2)

• Blazing Sevens – Geist loves Chad Brown, which explains why he drafted this horse who was fourth last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He had his first work of the year on 1/21.
• Instant Coffee – This Brad Cox runner was a solid winner of the Lecomte Stakes (G3) in his 3-year-old debut.
• Gulfport – He was disappointing as a 2-year-old but could improve stretching out in distance. His workouts are decent at Fair Grounds as they look to hit the reset button with him.
• Curly Jack – He was solid in a few of the toughest stakes races for 2-year-olds.
• Derma Sotogake – Geist looks to strike gold with this Japan runner who recently won the local prep in that country.

3. Jared Welch (5/1) 

• Extra Anejo – He has a world of talent; however, the injury is very concerning. Will he make it back in time? The good news is that he is now back with the Asmussen barn.
• Corona Bolt – This one looks to have a bright future after a sharp win in the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds. We’ll see him this weekend in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Gandolfini – No works since 12/9 is a pretty bad sign for this one.
• Tapit Trice – The recent Aqueduct maiden winner might have a big future.
• Carmel Road – He picked up a decent second last time out in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

4. The Magic Mike Show (5/1) 

• Cave Rock – He was all the rage heading into the Breeders’ Cup; however, he did not live up to the hype when running second in the Juvenile (G1). Baffert hopes to run him next in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
• Arctic Arrogance – It was another runner-up performance for this one as he could do no better than second in the Jerome Stakes, losing by a micro-small half-length.
• Tapit Shoes – He ran poorly in a recent Fair Grounds allowance race.
• Rocket Can – The horse was recently second in an Churchill Downs allowance race, losing by a micro-small half-length.
• Phileas Fogg – He hasn’t had a work since 12/27, which isn’t a good sign.

5. Kelby Von Hemel/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (6/1) 

• Forte – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner heads into 2023 as the Kentucky Derby favorite.
• Tapit’s Conquest – He ran ok, but he looked green and could do no better than second in a recent Fair Grounds allowance race.
• Fort Bragg – No workouts since 12/27 is a big concern.
• Gilmore – He broke his maiden at second asking for Bob Baffert at Los Alamitos. We may seem him this weekend in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
• Mr. Ripple – After a solid debut win, he came back to disappoint last time out in a Gulfstream Park allowance.

6. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (8/1)

• Arabian Knight – This Baffert runner looked like the real deal on debut at Keeneland. We will see him this weekend in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Litigate – He could do no better than second in a recent Gulfstream Park allowance.
• Spun Intended – Disaster struck for this horse as he pulled up injured in the Sham Stakes (G3). Thankfully, it was not life-threatening.
• Kingsbarns – He was very impressive breaking his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park.
• Banishing – A very minor injury forced him to miss a recent start but he should be back soon.

7. Shotty/Davey (8/1)

• National Treasure – His 2023 debut was disappointing as he was a lackluster third in the Sham Stakes (G3).
• Gun Pilot – He ran ok & finished second to Verifying in an Oaklawn Park allowance race in his last start.
• Verifying – He romped in an Oaklawn Park allowance race while earning a 97 Beyer for the effort.
• Tshiebwe – He’s still a maiden; however, he improved greatly in his second start. More improvement should lead to a victory.
• Practical Move – Boom! Even though it didn’t count for points in the league, this horse got the new team off to a great start with a win in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

8. Real Dynasty (10/1)

• Giant Mischief – He was second in the Remington Park Springboard Mile after totally missing the break.
• Fort Warren – One of the many Baffert maiden special weight winners that will look to jump up in class to start 2023. We may seem him this weekend in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
• Point Proven – He disappointed in a recent Tampa Bay Downs allowance race.
• Dubyuhnell – The winner of the Remsen Stakes (G2) seems like value as a fourth round pick.
• Determinedly – He picked up a nice win in a recent Fair Grounds allowance race.

9. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (12/1) 

• Signator – This horse looked sharp breaking his maiden at Aqueduct and has a pedigree that is extremely solid.
• Havnameltdown – Distance might be a question mark with this one, but he has talent and could win some races for Baffert. We may seem him this weekend in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
• Continuar – This Japanese runner won the first local Kentucky Derby prep in Japan.
• Awesome Strong – Look for this Florida-bred to face open company when returning from a minor injury.
• Jace’s Road – He looked solid in the Gun Runner Stakes last time out and could be an up-and-coming horse for Brad Cox. We will likely see him this weekend in the Southwest Stakes (G3).

10. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (15/1) 

• Disarm – The newest member of the team is back on the work tab at Fair Grounds for Steve Asmussen.
• Cyclone Mischief – This guy looked awfully impressive winning a recent Gulfstream Park allowance race for Dale Romans.
• Hejazi – He is a maiden no more after a solid win at Santa Anita Park.
• Classic Catch – He disappointed in a recent Tampa Bay Downs allowance race.
• Nuclear – This unraced colt should debut soon after several solid workouts.