Major 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders Emerge
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Major 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders Emerge

Each week we’ll bring you the standings, power rankings, and all the latest transactions from every Racing Dudes Triple Crown Fantasy League team. You’ll not only see which horses are moving up the leaderboard, but also what claims have been made — giving you a real edge on which runners might be on the rise.

We’ll also track how these horses are training and prepping for their upcoming starts, so you’re always in the loop on their progress. Curious how the league works or want more background? Check out this article on how Racing Dudes help kick off the Derby Trail — it’s a great primer on the league and the competition: https://www.secretariat.com/racing-dudes-help-kick-off-the-derby-trail/

So which teams have momentum heading into the big prep races? Scroll down to find out!

Current Triple Crown Fantasy League Standings

RankTeamScoreCurrent Team Members
1Magic Mike42Iron Honor, Intrepido, Carson Street (C), Quality Mischief (C), Golden Tempo
2Jared & Kevin33Rancho Santa Fe, Class President, Obliteration (C), Potente (C), Silent Tactic
3Aaron Halterman32Paladin, Desert Gate, Courting, Six Speed (C), Nearly (C)
4Vinny Blond30Ted Noffey, Rebel Instinct, My World, Mob, Soldier N Diplomat (C)
5Shotty & Davey26Further Ado, Thunderously (C), Buetane, Bravaro, Mesquite
6Double D’s23Cannoneer, Honey’s to Blame (C), Commandment, White Tiger, Strategic Risk
T7Geist21Renegade, Brant, Chip Honcho, Express Kid, Big Dom
T7Kelby & Evil Steveil 21Bricklin (C), Napoleon Solo, Sharons Beach (C), Plutarch (C), Wayne’s Law (C)
9Paul Withrow17Ewing, Satono Voyage, Canaletto (C), Powershift (C), Chief Wallabee (C)
10Jon & Ryan12Litmus Test, Boyd, Zany (C), Best Green (C), Emerging Market (C)
11Pedlow & Manlow8Blackout Time, Englishman, Salloom (C), Daneyko (C), Universe (C)
12Dan Waite2Incredibolt, Liberty National, Boss Dylan, Jackson Hole, Remember Mamba

Recent Claims

There are THIRTEEN claims to report this week:

  • In a 8-way shake: Jon & Ryan CLAIMED Emerging Market and DROPPED Secured Freedom
  • In a 3-way shake: Magic Mike CLAIMED Carson Street and DROPPED Confessional
  • In a 3-way shake: Pedlow & Manlow CLAIMED Universe and DROPPED Game for It
  • In a 2-way shake: Paul CLAIMED Powershift and DROPPED Schoolyardsuperman
  • Jon & Ryan CLAIMED Zany and DROPPED D’code
  • Jon & Ryan CLAIMED Best Green and DROPPED Mailata
  • Double D’s CLAIMED Honey’s to Blame and DROPPED Local Knowledge
  • Pedlow & Manlow CLAIMED Salloom and DROPPED Robusta
  • Pedlow & Manlow CLAIMED Daneyko and DROPPED Ottinho
  • Magic Mike CLAIMED Quality Mischief and DROPPED Grittiness
  • Kelby & Steve CLAIMED Sharons Beach and DROPPED Cherokee Nation
  • Kelby & Steve CLAIMED Wayne’s Lawn and DROPPED Fifty Four Yarder
  • Jared & Kevin CLAIMED Obliteration and DROPPED Crude Velocity

Power Rankings

The Power Rankings feature teams’ odds to win the Triple Crown Fantasy League, as well as an update on every horse on each team. Here we go:

1. Aaron Halterman (4/1)

  • Paladin – He runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
  • Desert Gate – He was a lackluster fourth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
  • Courting – We’ll see him this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.
  • Six Speed – Won the UAE 2000 Guineas in impressive fashion.
  • Nearly – Looked sharp winning the Holy Bull Stakes.

2. The Magic Mike Show (9/2) 

  • Iron Honor – Broke his maiden in style at Aqueduct.
  • Intrepido – Finished a decent second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
  • Carson Street – He runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.
  • Quality Mischief – He also runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.
  • Golden Tempo – He ALSO runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.

3. Shotty & Davey (5/1)

  • Further Ado – Recently won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, and has returned to the work tab.
  • Thunderously – Ultra-impressive debut maiden winner for Bill Mott going two-turns.
  • Buetane – He was an average third in the Southwest Stakes.
  • Bravaro – He finished a solid second in the Holy Bull Stakes.
  • Mesquite – He was a solid second in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.

4. Jared & Kevin (5/1)

  • Rancho Santa Fe – He was fourth in the Southwest Stakes.
  • Class President – He was a decent second in the Swale Stakes.
  • Obliteration – He runs this weekend in the Saudi Derby.
  • Potente – Looked solid in his debut win at Santa Anita.
  • Silent Tactic – Picked up an impressive win in the Southwest Stakes.

5. Kelby & Evil Steveil (8/1)

  • Plutarch – He picked up a massive win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
  • Napoleon Solo – Ultra-impressive winner of the Champagne Stakes.
  • Sharons Beach – We’ll see him this weekend in the Sunland Derby.
  • Bricklin – He also runs this weekend in the Sunland Derby.
  • Wayne’s Law – Finished a solid second in the Sam F. Davis Stakes.

6. Geist (8/1) 

  • Renegade – Looked great winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
  • Brant – Finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and is back on the work tab.
  • Chip Honcho – He runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.
  • Express Kid – We’ll see him this weekend in the Sunland Derby.
  • Big Dom – He hasn’t been on the worktab since 1/5.

7. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (10/1) 

  • Ewing – He’s finally back this weekend in the Ozarks Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
  • Satono Voyage – We’ll see him this weekend in the Saudi Derby.
  • Canaletto – Super impressive debut winner at Gulfstream Park.
  • Powershift – An impressive runner-up debut at Tampa Bay Downs.
  • Chief Wallabee – Ultra-impressive maiden winner on debut for Bill Mott.

8. Jon White & Ryan Stillman (10/1) 

  • Litmus Test – He scratched out of the Southwest Stakes.
  • Boyd – Sharp winner of the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs.
  • Emerging Market – Ultra-impressive debut winner for Chad Brown.
  • Zany – Undefeated filly could take on the boys next.
  • Best Green – Japanese runner has won 4 out of 5 races so far.

9. Double Ds (Doc Tang & Doc Miranda with Nick Seevers as GM) (12/1)

  • Cannoneer – Ran a lackluster fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes.
  • Honey’s to Blame – Arkansas bred has looked good in his two Oaklawn Park starts.
  • Commandment – Impressive winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes.
  • White Tiger – Finished second to last in the Lecomte Stakes.
  • Strategic Risk – He finished off the board in the Southwest Stakes.

10. Pedlow & Manlow (20/1) 

  • Blackout Time – Finished second in the Breeders Futurity, and is back on the worktab.
  • Englishman – Solid debut maiden winner at Churchill Downs, and is also back working.
  • Salloom – Solid runner is turning some head in Dubai.
  • Universe – He runs this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes.
  • Daneyko – We’ll see him this weekend in the Sunland Derby.

11. Vinny Blond (20/1)

  • Ted Noffey – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner is now injured and off the trail.
  • Rebel Instinct – Solid maiden winner at Belmont at the Big A, but no works since 11/15.
  • My World – We’ll see him this weekend in the Saudi Derby.
  • Mob – Recently scratched out of a Gulfstream Park allowance race.
  • Soldier N Diplomat – Runs this weekend in the Southwest Stakes.

12. Dan Waite (30/1)

  • Incredibolt – He finished last in the Holy Bull Stakes.
  • Liberty National – He did very little running in the Southwest Stakes.
  • Boss Dylan – He did very little running in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
  • Jackson Hole – Looked solid winning an allowance at Fair Grounds.
  • Remember Mamba – Impressive winner once again on the turf.

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