Fantasy League Update: Life Is Good’s Injury Creates Wide-Open Affair

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 (G1) Trail.

Let’s check out all the latest transactions and scoring updates:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• Jon/Ryan CLAIMED Rock Your World and DROPPED Life Is Good

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) 

• Rock Your World – The team turns to this turf horse to upset the Santa Anita Derby (G1) after losing top draft choice Life Is Good.
• Roman Centurian – His San Felipe Stakes (G2) performance left a lot to be desired, but it was good enough to see him again in either the Santa Anita Derby (G1) or the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
• Known Agenda – This team just can’t stop making claims! The newest member impressively won an allowance last time out at Gulfstream Park, though he did it with Lasix. We’ll see him try to do it again withour Lasix in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Concert Tour – He looked like a monster in his Rebel Stakes (G2) romp and is now the clear top runner from his barn, so he may stay home for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) or go back to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Dream Shake – This recent claim was a decent third in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and is aiming for the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

2. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (4/1)

• Brooklyn Strong – The Remsen Stakes (G2) winner returned to the work tab on February 26 but has a long way to go in a short period of time. He’ll take his one chance to earn a Derby spot in the Wood Memorial (G2).
• Promise Keeper – This recent claim did very little running in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
• Medina Spirit – This horse is tough as nails and ran well to finish second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2).
• Triple Tap – He won his debut impressively but was very late onto the scene. Did he start too late?
• Prevalence – He did what he needed to do in a recent allowance and earned his shot at a 100-point prep.

3. Dan Waite and Michael Myers (9/2) 

• Essential Quality – Boom! This team needed him to come back strong, and that’s exactly what happened as he powered home to an easy win in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Smiley Sobotka – He’s working steadily, so he should be back soon.
• Team Merchants – The Nyquist colt was impressive when breaking his maiden and finally had his first 2021 workout on March 6! He’s supposedly on target for the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) this weekend.
• Wolfie’s Dynaghost – He broke his maiden impressively on debut at Aqueduct on 11/14 but hasn’t worked since. 
• Drain the Clock – He ran a good second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) but will still cut back to shorter races.

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

• Classier – This Bob Baffert trainee was impressive on debut but hasn’t worked since 11/28. 
• Spielberg – He finished a decent second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. We’ll see him this week in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Freedom Fighter – Yikes, his stretch out to a one-turn mile in the Gotham Stakes (G3) did not go well. 
• Greatest Honour – He won yet again in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), catapulting this team into first place in the points standings. Can he sweep the Florida series this weekend in the Florida Derby (G1)?
• Manor House – He was beyond bad in a Fair Grounds allowance in his last start.

5. Jared Welch (6/1) 

• Highly Motivated – His third in the Gotham Stakes (G3) was not ideal, but he has a right to improve next out in his second start back.
• Hot Rod Charlie – Boom, this team got a much-needed big victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2). he earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure that’s higher than any current contender has received.
• Ghazaaly – He still can’t get the job done, most recently finishing second in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.  
• Donegal Bay – His Withers Stakes (G3) effort was a total disaster. 
• Class Reunion – The filly put up a poor effort last time out in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park.

6. Real Dynasty (8/1)

• Keepmeinmind – Yikes, his Rebel Stakes (G2) effort was a bit of a disaster. Hopefully he just needed the race and can rebound.
• Helium – The newest claim pulled off a 16/1 upset in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and will train up to the Kentucky Derby.
• Soup and Sandwich – The latest claim won a mid-week allowance at Tampa Bay Downs to give his team an immediate return on the investment. Let’s see if he can do it again this weekend in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Weyburn – This latest claim is on target for the Wood Memorial (G2) after upsetting the Gotham Stakes (G3).
• Proxy – This guy has proven to be very valuable in the league but is also very frustrating. He just can’t seem to get the job done.

7. The Killer Bs (10/1)

• Mandaloun – Wow, he just didn’t show up at all in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Who knows what happened, but he’s reportedly going to nominate to the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, just 3 weeks before the main event.
• The Great One – A wide trip gave him little chance to make an impact in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), but he’s expected to return for the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
• Get Her Number – Yet another horse who had all kinds of trouble in the Rebel Stakes (G2), he’s possible for either the Santa Anita Derby (G1) or the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Lemon Pop – This Japanese runner turned heads with a solid win in the Cattleya at Tokyo Racecourse but hasn’t raced since November.
• Nova Rags – This claim could be improving after a runner-up effort in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). He’ll run this weekend in the Florida Derby (G1).

8. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector (15/1)

• Speaker’s Corner – This Bill Mott trainee looked great last year, beating two horses who have since won impressively. He’s getting going late in the game, but at least he’s back working out. 
• Caddo River – Oh boy, his Rebel Stakes (G2) effort as the 6/5 favorite was not good at all.
• Savile Row – He impressed in his debut at Del Mar on 11/8; however, he hasn’t been on the work tab since. 
• Risk Taking – This late-round draft pick paid off with a big win in the Withers Stakes (G3). 
• Candy Man Rocket – A tough trip saw him finish off the board in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

9. The Magic Mike Show (15/1) 

• Prime Factor – Wow, turns out this highly-hyped first-round pick is just terrible.
• Easy Time – He switched to turf and nearly won last time out against allowance company. 
• Starrininmydreams – There’s no way around it, he was horrible in both stakes efforts at Fair Grounds.
• Regular Guy – He’s just awful on dirt, but maybe trying turf this week will help (LOL).
• Midnight Bourbon – This consistent early-season claim ran well yet again in the Louisiana Derby (G2), finishing second.

10. Aaron Halterman (20/1)

• Collaborate – This team caught a big break, winning a five-way shake for this up-and-comer who will start next in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Jackie’s Warrior – He’s officially cutting back to one-turn races after a poor effort in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Parnelli – He sucks so bad but is going to try the Santa Anita Derby (G1) because why not.
• Whiskey Double – He earned a nice allowance victory at Oaklawn Park in his last start.
• Rombauer – He picked up a big win for this team in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate and will point to the Santa Anita Derby (G1).