2022 Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Newgrange Back for Southwest 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 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 point toward Saturday’s Southwest Stakes (G3):

Current Standings

Recent Claims

There are two claims to report this week:

• Kelby Von Hemel have CLAIMED Call Me Midnight and DROPPED Cogburn
• Jon White/Ryan Stillman have CLAIMED Wharton and DROPPED Oviatt Class

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. Real Dynasty (4/1)

• 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).
• Newgrange – He looked very impressive in his Sham Stakes (G3) victory at Santa Anita. We’ll see him this weekend in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Home Brew – He was a complete no-show in a poor Smarty Jones Stakes performance at Oaklawn Park. He has worked well since that effort, though.
• 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.

2. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (9/2)

• 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. He’s put in strong works.
• In Dreams – A recent allowance win at Oaklawn Park has hopes high for this horse who fired a bullet workout on 1/16.
• 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?
• McLaren Vale – This Bob Baffert trainee was a debut winner on New Year’s Eve, though the figure didn’t come back all that high. He is working well, though.
• American Icon – The newest addition to the team was a sharp debut winner at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher. He fired a bullet workout recently.

3. The Magic Mike Show (5/1) 

• Doppelgänger – The recent Bob Baffert debut winner is pointing to the San Vicente Stakes (G2) January 29 at Santa Anita after firing a bullet workout on 1/12.
• 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 Kentucky Derby (G1).
• White Abarrio – We’ll see if this Saffie Joseph Jr. runner can make some noise on the Florida circuit. He has a steady work pattern at Gulfstream Park.
• 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.
• Gilded Age – It took him a while to break the maiden, but he did it nicely last time out for Bill Mott.

4. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (6/1) 

• Corniche – He’s the clubhouse leader after an impressive 3-for-3 campaign as a 2-year-old.
• Tiz the Bomb – He’s great on the turf, but we don’t know what he will look like on dirt until he tries it in 2022. He has returned to the track and put in a solid work last weekend. Look for him in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) next.
• Early Voting – Chad Brown won with this horse on debut at Aqueduct in impressive fashion. He is one to watch off of that effort.
• Classic Causeway – He’s lost a couple of tough races, but his early speed makes him dangerous and there’s room for improvement.
• Wharton – The newest claim for this team was a sharp maiden special weight winner on debut for Bob Baffert.

5. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (6/1) 

• 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.
• My Prankster – He has a lot of ability and picked up a recent allowance win at Gulfstream Park.
• Trafalgar – He wasn’t bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), but could do no better than fourth in that race.
• Cyberknife – He, on the other hand, was bad in the Lecomte Stakes (G3).
• Chasing Time – Wow, this horse woke up in a big way last time out, dominating an allowance field at Oaklawn Park.

6. Jared Welch (8/1) 

• Emmanuel – He missed his scheduled start at Tampa Bay Downs because he spiked a fever. He put up a bullet work on 1/15, so he seems fine now, and Pletcher is reportedly looking for a similar race for his next start.
• Commandperformance – He’s still a maiden but faced top-level competition as a 2-year-old. However, he’s reportedly not returning to the work tab until the end of January.
• 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.

7. Aaron Halterman (8/1)

• 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 – His Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) effort was disappointing, but he will likely rebound for Bob Baffert. His last workout at Santa Anita on 1/23 was solid.
• Unpredictable Bay – It took a while to break his maiden, but he did it in style last time out and could be figuring things out. He has had two solid works at Tampa Bay.
• Sir London – His maiden special weight win at Los Alamitos last time out was very impressive. He has had a steady work tab at Santa Anita since that victory.
• Kid Corleone – He beat Sir London in a maiden special weight score at Del Mar last time out; however, we haven’t seen a work from him in nearly a month now.

8. Kelby Von Hemel (10/1)

• Giant Game – The Dale Romans trainee ran ok in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and should like going longer. He is working out like a monster in South Florida.
• 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 tap 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 – The Bob Baffert trainee had a nice 2021 but must rebound from a poor season-ending effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
• Forbidden Kingdom – Trainer Richard Mandella will give this horse plenty of chances if he’s good enough.

9. Geist (12/1)

• Mo Donegal – We’ll see if the Remsen Stakes (G2) winner can actually make an impact on the Derby Trail this year. He’s aiming for the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on February 5.
• Make It Big – Ditto with the Springboard Mile winner. Can he make an impact after winning that race?
• 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 that one.
• 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 awhile.
• 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.

10. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (15/1) 

• 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.
• Slow Down Andy – He wasn’t overly impressive, but his Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) win was a big improvement.
• 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 teams newest claim is working well down in Florida, which will likely lead to a race soon.
• Spin Wheel – He looked solid breaking his maiden last time out at Churchill Downs.