Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: And So It Begins!

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

Recent Claims

The claiming period begins next week!

Power Rankings

The “Power Rankings” feature teams’ odds to win the contest, as well as an update on every horse on a team. Here we go:

1. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (3/1)

• Honor A. P. – Let’s see if he can get this team started off right with a win in the Sham Stakes (G3) this weekend. (UPDATE: According to DRF, “an unspecified setback has knocked Honor A. P. out of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita”)
• Storm the Court – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner has had two recent workouts as he prepares for 2020. 
• Basin – The Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner will likely impact the Derby Trail later in the season after an injury has forced him to miss some time. 
• Chance It – He’ll look to get started in the right direction with a start in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park this weekend. 
• Sole Volante – This solid turf performer will give dirt a try for his next start.

2. Aaron Halterman (9/2)

• Independence Hall – He towers over the Jerome Stakes field in what should be an easy victory.
• Azul Coast – Two workouts since his maiden-breaking score suggests that he’s getting ready to race again soon. Both of his workouts have been strong. 
• Authentic – A string of recent workouts means that he’s getting close to making his second start.
• Little Menace – After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs, he was sent to Oaklawn Park, where he’ll likely make a start on opening weekend. 
• Alex Joon – He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on December 1st; however, he has not returned to the work tab. 

3. The Magic Mike Show (6/1)

• Tiz the Law – He recently got back on the workout tab and has the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park as his first target. 
• Bellavia – An impressive maiden special weight win at Belmont Park has this horse getting plenty of hype. He has yet to work since that October 23 win, though.
• Chestertown – A few recent workouts at Fair Grounds suggest he that getting close to making his first start since impressively breaking his maiden. 
• Enforceable – This runner has plenty of stakes experience, which gives him an advantage heading into 2020. He also has been working at the Fair Grounds.
• Tizamagician – This team’s mascot will kick off his season in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park on New Year’s Day. 

4. Jared Welch (6/1)

• Maxfield – Look for him to make an impact later in the season after an injury forced him to miss the last two months of 2019. 
• Eight Rings – This Grade 1 winner has class; however, he hasn’t had a recorded workout since December 1. 
• Toledo – His recent runner-up effort in a Gulfstream Park allowance event was not encouraging.
• Shoplifted – The Remington Park Springboard Mile winner recently showed back up with a workout at… Sam Houston? Surely that’s an error.
• American Butterfly – Look for him to target the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park for his 2020 debut. 

5. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (8/1)

• Ancient Warrior – Plenty of hype surrounds this Del Mar maiden special weight winner. His most recent workout came at Los Alamitos on December 12.
• Ajaaweed – He closed fast to finish second in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.
• Answer In – His first stakes effort was solid, finishing a tough-luck second in the Remington Park Springboard Mile.
• American Theorem – He’s back to work at Santa Anita Park and is preparing for a March return.
• Finnick the Fierce – He’s had two steady works since finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). 

6. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (8/1)

• Thousand Words – The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner has had two nice workouts at Santa Anita since that victory. 
• Ra’ad – He got back to the work tab on December 29, his first since breaking his maiden at Los Alamitos.
• Shashashakemeup – Shortly after being drafted, he ran a disappointing fourth in the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds.
• Necker Island – After two victories at Churchill Downs, this colt is now working out steadily at Palm Meadows.
• South Bend – He has also had two recent works at Palm Meadows as he looks to bounce back from a poor effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).

7. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector (8/1)

• Structor – The undefeated turf star will make his first dirt start when he steps onto the Kentucky Derby Trail in 2020. 
• Three Technique – The New Yorker moved to Oaklawn Park to run in their 3-year-old series.
• Scabbard – He’ll look to take the Fair Grounds route to the Kentucky Derby, with his early sights set on the Lecomte Stakes (G3). 
• Country Grammer – This son of Tonalist showed great promise when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct last time out. However, his latest work came on November 30.
• Moon Over Miami – Another impressive Aqueduct maiden winner for this team, who recently had a workout at Payson Park Training Center. 

8. Brandon “B$” Bauer (10/1)

• Dennis’ Moment – He’s back at the Dale Romans barn after some rest and will look to get things started in February or March.
• High Velocity – He appeared back on the workout tab on December 21 after finishing third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
• Silver Prospector – Two recent works at Fair Grounds suggest that he’s ready to roll after upsetting the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last time out.
• Thunder Code – This maiden will likely return in March.
• Glory Road – He was an impressive maiden special weight winner at Saratoga; however, his last workout came on November 19. 

9. Real Dynasty (10/1)

• Green Light Go – Impressive as a 2-year-old, he is back to work after a small break.
• Mr. Monomoy – He ran well in a recent Fair Grounds allowance, but he was unable to finish the deal as Lynn’s Map passed him late.
• Soros – A nice win in the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park earned this horse some hype.
• Silver State – It looks like he’ll be taking the Fair Grounds route to the Kentucky Derby after two solid works there. 
• (Empire Maker/Silver Colors) – We’ll see if this horse ever gets a name. He has a steady string of works at Palm Beach Downs as he prepares for his debut.

10. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite (15/1)

• Anneau d’Or – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up will likely make his 2020 debut later in the Santa Anita Park meet.
• Gouverneur Morris – This Todd Pletcher trainee has a lot of hype and is back to work at Palm Beach Downs as he prepares for his 2020 debut.
• Shotski – A big win in the Remsen Stakes (G2) shows that this horse could be for real.
• Sonneman – He broke his maiden nicely at Belmont Park in October; however, he has no recorded workouts since. 
• Positively Awesome – This colt has shown great promise running in sprints. He now must prove that he can maintain that talent as he stretches out in distance.