Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Teams Stumble out of the Gate

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

• In a two-way shake: Jon White/Ryan Stillman CLAIMED Fenway and DROPPED Hozier
• Magic Mike Show CLAIMED Midnight Bourbon and DROPPED Stayin’ Out Late
• Dan/Michael Myers CLAIMED Amount and DROPPED Lidstrom 

Watch the shake happen live!

youtube.com/watch?v=l_GgtIyt4mQ

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 (7/2) 

• Life Is Good – The number one overall pick in the draft earned a solid 101 Beyer Speed Figure for winning the Sham Stakes (G3). 
• Mutasaabeq – He also picked up a big win for this team in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. 
• Bezos – He is working very well for trainer Bob Baffert and has a lot of hype. His debut is imminent.
• Concert Tour – He turned out to be the goods with a solid maiden special weight score at Santa Anita on debut. 
• Fenway – Yet another Baffert horse has been added to the team. He dazzled in a recent workout at Santa Anita, signaling he is close to debuting. 

2. Real Dynasty (4/1)

• Keepmeinmind – The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner should be a consistent points-earner this season. He recently had his first work of the year at Oaklawn Park and is targeting the Southwest Stakes (G3) on February 15.
• Ten for Ten – There are no excuses for his Remsen Stakes (G2) loss; however, he is another who should consistently earn points. 
• Olympiad – This Saratoga maiden winner is back on the work tab at Payson Training Center as he gears up for a 2021 campaign. 
• Ethical Judgement – A solid maiden-breaking score at Keeneland should have him pointed for a Derby prep next; however, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen a workout from him.  
• Proxy – He was a solid second in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), showing that he has some value. 

3. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (5/1)

• Brooklyn Strong – This team is hoping that the Remsen Stakes (G2) curse (not affecting the Derby Trail) is broken with this colt who looked strong winning that race. It’s not looking good so far, though, as a minor set back will cause him to miss the Withers Stakes (G3). 
• Prate – This Brad Cox trainee looked like the real deal in his debut score at Fair Grounds but will be kept sprinting for the time being, according to his barn.
• Medina Spirit – He was second in the Sham Stakes (G3) and earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure in that contest.
• Triple Tap – This unraced colt by Tapit has put in two solid works at Santa Anita recently, so we’ll likely see him soon. 
• Beep Beep – Yikes, he was beaten badly in an allowance at Fair Grounds. 

4. Aaron Halterman (6/1)

• Senor Buscador – The Remington Park Springboard Mile winner has displayed a devastating closing kick in both of his starts. He’s put in two recent works at Sam Houston.   
• Jackie’s Warrior – He disappointed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1); however, this horse looked like a monster for most of his 2-year-old season. 
• Parnelli – There’s no way around it, he was a disappointing and distant third in the Sham Stakes (G3).
• Whiskey Double – He’ll likely need to be dropped soon after a poor allowance performance at Fair Grounds. 
• Rombauer – He’s back on the work tab at Santa Anita after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

5. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector (6/1)

• Speaker’s Corner – This Bill Mott trainee looked great last time out, beating two horses who have come back to win impressively, but he hasn’t worked since late November.
• Caddo River – The Brad Cox trainee blew the competition away last time out at Churchill Downs. He runs this weekend in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. 
• Savile Row – He impressed in his debut at Del Mar on 11/8; however, he has not been seen on the work tab since that victory. 
• Risk Taking – Slim will always have a Chad Brown horse on his roster. This colt was impressive in victory last time out at Aqueduct. 
• Known Agenda – He was a plodding third last time out in the Remsen Stakes (G2).

6. Jared Welch (8/1) 

• Highly Motivated – Incredibly, this horse fell to #8 in the draft, giving this team a major gift. He won the Nyquist Stakes impressively in his last start. 
• Hot Rod Charlie – His runner up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) was very strong. Can he repeat that effort next in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3)? 
• Ghazaaly – The unraced Todd Pletcher colt is getting close to a start after a string of solid works at Palm Beach Downs. 
• Donegal Bay – Another Pletcher colt who could have a big future. He was impressive in victory last time out at Gulfstream Park. 
• Class Reunion – The filly was a lackluster fourth in her debut at Santa Anita. 

7. The Magic Mike Show (8/1) 

• Prime Factor – This team traded up one spot to ensure they landed this promising Todd Pletcher trainee. There is no doubt he was ultra-impressive on debut at Gulfstream Park. 
• Easy Time – Yikes, he was a complete no-show in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. At least the league is always better when this team runs a dud.
• Chess’s Dream – This Mike Maker colt broke his maiden in his fourth try, which came at Gulfstream Park on 12/13. 
• Regular Guy – He pretty much sucked in an off-the-board finish in the Lecomte Stakes (G3). 
• Midnight Bourbon – The newest member of the team should add value after winning the Lecomte Stakes (G3).

8. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (12/1) 

• Essential Quality – A major bright spot for the team, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner should have a strong 2021 campaign. 
• Editor In Chief – He did little running at all in a recent maiden special weight at Santa Anita. 
• Team Merchants – The Nyquist colt was impressive when breaking his maiden at Saratoga; however, he has not been on the work tab since that race. 
• Wolfie’s Dynaghost – He broke his maiden impressively on debut at Aqueduct on 11/14; however, he is another that has not been seen on the work tab since that victory. 
• Amount – This Todd Pletcher colt won impressively on debut at Gulfstream Park last time out. His workouts suggest he’s about ready to run again. 

9. The Killer Bs (15/1)

• Mandaloun – A lackluster third in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) is not what this team wanted to see. 
• The Great One – This maiden nearly pulled off a big upset last time out in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
• Reinvestment Risk – This horse certainly has a lot of class; however, it is questionable if he will stretch out in distance. 
• Lemon Pop – This Japanese runner turned heads with a solid win in the Cattleya last time out at Tokyo Racecourse. 
• Golden Pal – This TURF SPRINTER was drafted in a Kentucky Derby Fantasy League. Good luck figuring this one out…

10. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (20/1) 

• Classier – This Bob Baffert trainee was impressive on debut; however, we haven’t seen a workout from him since 11/28. 
• Spielberg – He won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) last time out, which is usually a productive prep race. 
• Freedom Fighter – Yet another Bob Baffert trainee! This horse was very impressive on debut at Del Mar, while he has a steady work tab recently at Santa Anita. 
• Prisoner – He broke his maiden way back in June at Belmont Park; however, we have not seen a workout from him since. 
• Manor House – He was beyond bad in an allowance race at Fair Grounds in his last start.