Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Now it Gets Serious

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 all the latest transactions and scoring updates:

Current Standings

Ranking	Team	Score	Current Team Members
1	Aaron Halterman	500	Art Collector, Azul Coast, Authentic, Little Menace, Pneumatic
2	The Magic Mike Show	412	Tiz the Law, Excession, Jesus' Team, Liveyourbeastlife, Tizamagician
3	Paul "Free Beers" Withrow	267	Thousand Words, Cezanne, Gamine, Necker Island, Caracaro
4	Dan "Wise Dan" Waite	206	Sonneman, Swiss Skydiver, Man in the Can, Max Player, Mystic Guide
5	Jon White/Ryan Stillman	161	Honor A. P., Cafe Pharoah, Basin, Tap It to Win, Uncle Chuck
6	Mike "Saratoga Slim" Spector	101	Structor, Ny Traffic, Charlatan, Country Grammer, No Parole
7	Jared Welch	82	Candy Tycoon, Eight Rings, Toledo, Shoplifted, Ete Indien
8	Real Dynasty	70	Money Moves, Creed, Happy Saver, Rushie, Sole Volante
9	Brandon "B$" Bauer	46	Dennis' Moment, High Velocity, Silver Prospector, Thunder Code, Major Fed
10	Austin Elsey and Steve "Evil Steveil" Ronchetto	(-34)	Mischevious Alex, Shivaree, Mr. Big News, King Guillermo, Wells Bayou

Recent Claims

There are three claims to announce this week:

In a three-way shake: Jared claimed Spinoff and dropped Maximus Mischief
In a two-way shake: Jon and Ryan claimed Maximum Security and dropped Trophy Chaser
Magic Mike claimed Well Defined and dropped Award Winner

Power Rankings

1. Jon White/Ryan Stillman – This team’s big horses are ready to return to the track. This week, they’ll have Hidden Scroll in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), while next week, they’ll have Improbable in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). They look poised to soar to the lead without looking back and also picked up Maximum Security, who could end up being freakishly talented.

2. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow – It will be a quiet week for Free Beers in prep races, but we will find out about his recently-claimed Roadster when he runs in an allowance race at Santa Anita Park on Friday. If the Bob Baffert trainee does come back with a big race, this team looks loaded with potential to move up the standings.

3. Aaron Halterman – The team full of average horses continues its average run to eventual mediocrity. As has been the case since Day 1, this team lacks a star horse, which will eventually leave him out of his current first-place spot in the points standings. Mucho Gusto seems to be the main hope for continued success; however, he is probably Baffert’s third-string horse.

4. Jared Welch – It will be a quiet week for Team Welch once again this week, though he did win a three-way shake for Spinoff. That claim gives him two solid Todd Pletcher contenders who could be on the rise. With the rash of injuries that have hit this team in recent weeks, he is still in decent shape, thanks to a little luck in the claiming department.

5. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector – Slim is set up for potentially big performances next weekend, with Mind Control in the Gotham Stakes (G3), Instagrand in the San Felipe, and Dream Maker in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). We will know a lot more after those horses run. As for this weekend, we’ll see if Dessman can run well in the same Friday allowance race as Roadster.

6. Brandon “B$” Bauer – It is going to be a busy few weeks for this team, kicking off this weekend with Global Campaign in the Fountain of Youth. Pretty much all of his horses are going to run within the next three weeks, so now is the time to see what direction this team is headed.

7. Patrick “Mad Dog” Meagher – Patrick’s conservative route in the claiming department has him in fifth place heading into the weekend. The strategy could pay off big-time, starting with the Fountain of Youth, where Code of Honor and Signalman have both entered. How they finish will be the major determining factors to determine how successful he can become.

8. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite – It’s going to be a big weekend for Wise Dan, with Nolo Contesto in that tough Friday allowance race against Roadster and Dessman, and Bourbon War taking a shot in the Fountain of Youth. Last year’s last-place finisher needs success from those horses this weekend, or else he could be slipping down toward the bottom once again.

9. The Magic Mike Show – This team still looks to be in big trouble; they just can’t win a shake. They did at least pick up Well Defined, who should be one of the top choices in next week’s Tampa Bay Derby. Perhaps he will be the one to get this team finally going in the right direction.

10. The Fans: Austin and Bones – It is a make-or-break weekend for The Fans, who desperately need points. They will have their #1 draft pick, Vekmoa, running this weekend in the Fountain of Youth, but he really needs to have a good showing in this race.