2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders Update: Taptastic and Redland Rebels Take Aim at Arkansas Derby

2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders Update: Taptastic and Redland Rebels Take Aim at Arkansas Derby

Each week we’ll bring you the standings, power rankings, and all the latest transactions from every Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League team. You’ll not only see which horses are moving up the leaderboard, but also what claims have been made — giving you a real edge on which runners might be on the rise.

We’ll also track how these horses are training and prepping for their upcoming starts, so you’re always in the loop on their progress. Curious how the league works or want more background? Check out this article on how Racing Dudes help kick off the Derby Trail — it’s a great primer on the league and the competition: https://www.secretariat.com/racing-dudes-help-kick-off-the-derby-trail/

So which teams have momentum heading into the big prep races? Scroll down to find out!

Current Triple Crown Fantasy League Standings

RankTeamScoreCurrent Team Members
1Jared & Kevin180 Cherokee Nation (C), Class President, Steel (C), Potente (C), Silent Tactic
2Aaron Halterman142 Paladin, The Puma (C), Six Speed (C), Black Hornet (C), Nearly (C)
T3Shotty & Davey122 Further Ado, Creole Chrome (C), Taj Mahal (C), Bravaro, Fulleffort (C)
T3Magic Mike122Iron Honor, Intrepido, Redland Rebels (C), Albus (C), Golden Tempo
5Jon & Ryan93Litmus Test, Buetane (C), Danon Bourbon (C), Talk to Me Jimmy (C), Emerging Market (C)
6Double D’s83 Cannoneer, Ottinho (C), Commandment, Reagan’s Honor (C), Crude Velocity (C)
7Paul Withrow76 Brotherly Love (C), Grittiness (C), Canaletto (C), Charlie (C), Chief Wallabee (C)
8Vinny Blond75Ted Noffey, Universe (C), Stop the Car (C), Robusta (C), Soldier N Diplomat (C)
9Geist68.5Renegade, Brant, Chip Honcho, Express Kid, Big Dom
10Kelby & Evil Steveil 55Right to Party (C), Napoleon Solo, Great White (C), Bricklin (C), Wayne’s Law (C)
11Dan Waite52Incredibolt, Pavlovian (C), Boss Dylan, Jackson Hole, Remember Mamba
12Pedlow & Manlow30Blackout Time, Englishman, Salloom (C), Pyromancer (C), Taptastic (C)

Recent Claims

There are NINE claims to report this week:

  • In a 6-Way Shake: Pedlow & Manlow CLAIMED Taptastic and DROPPED Easterly
  • In a 3-Way Shake: Jon & Ryan CLAIMED Buetane and DROPPED Chaos Agent
  • In a 3-Way Shake: Magic Mike CLAIMED Redland Rebels and DROPPED Baytown Dreamer
  • Paul Withrow CLAIMED Charlie and DROPPED Medici
  • Jared & Kevin CLAIMED Steel and DROPPED Argos
  • Shotty & Davey CLAIMED Creole Chrome and DROPPED Stark Contrast
  • Magic Mike CLAIMED Albus and DROPPED Two Our Hero
  • Kelby & Steve CLAIMED Great White and DROPPED Autobahn
  • Kelby & Steve CLAIMED Bricklin and DROPPED Blacksmith

Power Rankings

The Power Rankings feature teams’ odds to win the Triple Crown Fantasy League, as well as an update on every horse on each team. Here we go:

1. Jared & Kevin (7/2)

  • Cherokee Nation – Popped a 100 beyer in his maiden breaking win.
  • Class President – Picked up a massive win in the Rebel Stakes.
  • Steel – We’ll see him next weekend in the Wood Memorial.
  • Potente – He picked up a massive win in the San Felipe Stakes.
  • Silent Tactic – We’ll see him this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.

2. Aaron Halterman (4/1)

  • Paladin – He picked up a big win in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
  • Black Hornet – He did no running in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
  • Six Speed – We’ll see him this weekend in the UAE Derby.
  • The Puma – He runs this weekend in the Florida Derby.
  • Nearly – We’ll also see him this weekend in the Florida Derby.

3. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (9/2) 

  • Brotherly Love – He runs this weekend in the UAE Derby
  • Grittiness – He finished a decent second in the Virginia Derby.
  • Canaletto – He was an ok third in the Tampa Bay Derby.
  • Charlie – We’ll see him this weekend in the Fukuryu Stakes in Japan.
  • Chief Wallabee – He runs this weekend in the Florida Derby.

4. Double Ds (Doc Tang & Doc Miranda with Nick Seevers as GM) (6/1)

  • Cannoneer – Ran a lackluster fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes.
  • Ottinho – We’ll see him next in the Wood Memorial.
  • Commandment – He runs this weekend in the Florida Derby.
  • Reagan’s Honor – Solid horse is two for two and headed to the Blue Grass Stakes.
  • Crude Velocity – He was impressive on debut for Bob Baffert.

5. The Magic Mike Show (8/1) 

  • Iron Honor – He picked up a big win in the Gotham Stakes.
  • Intrepido – Finished a decent second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
  • Redland Rebels – He runs this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Albus – He runs this weekend in the Florida Derby.
  • Golden Tempo – He was once again a late closing third in the Louisiana Derby.

6. Jon White & Ryan Stillman (8/1) 

  • Litmus Test – We’ll see him this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Buetane – He’ll try again next weekend in the Wood Memorial.
  • Emerging Market – He picked up a massive win in the Louisiana Derby.
  • Danon Bourbon – He’s an undefeated 2 for 2 in Japan.
  • Talk to Me Jimmy – We’ll see him next in the Wood Memorial.

7. Shotty & Davey (10/1)

  • Further Ado – He was a decent second in the Tampa Bay Derby.
  • Creole Chrome – He is supposed to run in a prep race next weekend.
  • Taj Mahal – He is pointing towards the Wood Memorial Stakes.
  • Bravaro – He finished an ok fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
  • Fulleffort – He picked up a massive win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

8. Geist (10/1) 

  • Renegade – We’ll see him this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Brant – He flopped badly in the San Felipe Stakes.
  • Chip Honcho – He was off the board in the Louisiana Derby.
  • Express Kid – He finished a decent second in the Sunland Derby.
  • Big Dom – He hasn’t been on the worktab since 1/5.

9. Vinny Blond (20/1)

  • Ted Noffey – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner is now injured and off the trail.
  • Robusta – He was a surprising second in the San Felipe Stakes.
  • Stop the Car – He was an ok fourth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
  • Universe – He was a decent fourth in the Louisiana Derby.
  • Soldier N Diplomat – He runs this week, but not in a Kentucky Derby prep race.

10. Kelby & Evil Steveil (20/1)

  • Great White – We’ll see him next weekend in the Blue Grass Stakes.
  • Napoleon Solo – He did very little running in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
  • Wayne’s Law – We’ll see him this weekend in the Florida Derby.
  • Right to Party – He finished third in the Gotham Stakes.
  • Bricklin- He runs this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.

11. Pedlow & Manlow (30/1) 

  • Blackout Time – We’ll see him this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Englishman – His return was awesome, but he’s not pointed towards the Triple Crown as of now.
  • Salloom – We should see him this weekend in the UAE Derby.
  • Taptastic – He runs this weekend in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Pyromancer – We’ll also see him this weekend in the UAE Derby.

12. Dan Waite (30/1)

  • Incredibolt – He picked up a massive win in the Virginia Derby.
  • Pavlovian – He ran a solid second in the Louisiana Derby.
  • Boss Dylan – He did very little running in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
  • Jackson Hole – He did little running in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
  • Remember Mamba – Impressive winner once again on the turf.