2023 Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League Update: Preakness Week Looms Large

Each week, this important article will provide the standings, power rankings, and recent transactions for every Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League team. 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.

Let’s take a look at the teams heading into the Preakness Stakes (G1):

Current Standings

Recent Claims

There is one claim to announce this week:

• Jon/Ryan CLAIMED Arcangelo and DROPPED Hejazi

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. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (3/1) 

• Mandarin Hero – He never got going in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and has returned to Japan.
• Havnameltdown – Likely best as a sprinter, he was an impressive winner of the San Vicente Stakes (G2) before nearly winning the Saudi Derby. We’ll see him this weekend in the Chick Lang Stakes
• Continuar – He had to scratch from the Kentucky Derby (G1) and has returned to Japan.
• Mage – BOOM!! The Kentucky Derby (G1) winner now gives this team a major chance to win the league after being totally written off all season!
• Jace’s Road – He was nowhere to be found in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

2. Kelby Von Hemel/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (7/2) 

• Forte – This team caught a horrible break when he had to scratch from the Kentucky Derby (G1). He will reportedly not run in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Tapit’s Conquest – He was disappointing in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
• Fort Bragg – He ran well enough to win but just couldn’t hold the lead late in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Hit Show – This horse ran well to finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Mr. Ripple – He wasn’t awful in the Florida Derby (G1); however, he could do no better than fourth.

3. Jared Welch (4/1) 

• Extra Anejo – His return to the races was a bit disappointing with a loss in an allowance race.
• Corona Bolt – He won a tough sprint stakes at Keeneland.
• Geaux Rocket Ride – He showed up with a big effort to be second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), but he got sick and scratched out of the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
• Tapit Trice – He was last up the backside in the Kentucky Derby (G1), which ended up being his undoing. The Belmont Stakes (G1) could be next.
• Cairo – He was not good in the UAE Derby (G2), finishing off the board.

4. Shotty/Davey (4/1)

• National Treasure – He got going late but could do no better than fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). We will see him next in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Gun Pilot – He was nowhere to be found in the Pat Day Mile (G2).
• Verifying – He set the pace but didn’t do much else in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Red Route One – He won the Bath House Row Stakes, giving him free entry into the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Practical Move – Unfortunately, he had to scratch from the Kentucky Derby (G1).

5. Real Dynasty (9/2)

• Giant Mischief – Despite a decent trip, he still finished off the board in the Rebel Stakes (G2).
• Confidence Game – He was disappointing in the Kentucky Derby (G1); however, he should move forward off of that race.
• Two Phil’s – Wow, he nearly pulled it off, finishing a tough-luck second in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Dubyuhnell – He was nowhere to be found in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Sun Thunder – He made no impact in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

6. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (12/1)

• Arabian Knight – He is off the Triple Crown Trail with an injury.
• Bishops Bay – The newest claim finished second in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3).
• Slip Mahoney – He disappointed again with an off-the-board finish in the Long Branch Stakes.
• Kingsbarns – After setting the pace, he faded badly in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Banishing – Yikes, he was a complete no-show in a recent Fair Grounds allowance and hasn’t recorded a workout since mid-March.

7. Geist (12/1)

• Blazing Sevens – He improved enough to finish third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1). We will see him next in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
• Instant Coffee – The heavy favorite did little running in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
• Gulfport – He did little running in a sprint stakes at Keeneland.
• Classic Catch – He was off the board in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3); however, he did earn this team 1 very important point.
• Derma Sotogake – He broke poorly and had a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Hopefully his trip back to Japan went better.

8. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (20/1) 

• Disarm – He ran very well to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but will skip the rest of the Triple Crown.
• Cyclone Mischief – He didn’t break well and never engaged the field before finishing last in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Arcangelo – The newest member of the team looked sharp in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3).
• Angel of Empire – He closed fast but ran out of real estate in the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing third. The Belmont Stakes (G1) could be next.
• Skinner – Unfortunately, he had to scratch out of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

9. The Magic Mike Show (20/1) 

• Cave Rock – Will he ever race again? Is he even alive? We may never know.
• Arctic Arrogance – He set the pace before fading to fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).
• Henry Q – He ran a lackluster third in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.
• Rocket Can – He was a lackluster 9th in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
• First Mission – The newest member of the team is pointed towards the Preakness Stakes (G1) after a solid win in the Lexington Stakes (G3).

10. Aaron Halterman (50/1)

• Arabian Lion – He was second in the Lexington Stakes (G3) despite a great trip. We’ll see him in the Sir Barton Stakes this weekend.
• Victory Formation – He was better in the Bath House Row Stakes but still wasn’t good enough.
• Rudder’s Men – He tried the turf and still was poor, finishing off the board in a Tampa Bay Downs stakes.
• Reincarnate – He was nowhere to be found in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after being part of the pace.
• Faustin – He hasn’t recorded a workout since February 18.