Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Big Week for Independence Hall

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 of the latest transactions and scoring updates:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• Dan “Wise Dan” Waite CLAIMED Max Player and DROPPED Sonneman 
• Jon White and Ryan Stillman CLAIMED Great Power and DROPPED Untitled 

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. The Magic Mike Show (9/5)

• Tiz the Law – He crushed his rivals in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and looks like one of the best 3-year-olds in the country. 
• Bellavia – An impressive maiden special weight win at Belmont Park gave this horse plenty of hype. He has yet to work since that October 23 win, though.
• Chestertown – The team tried dropping him after his poor allowance race at Fair Grounds but lost the shake for Nadal. 
• Enforceable – His nice Lecomte Stakes (G3) win was visually impressive.
• Tizamagician – The team mascot earned a career-best 89 Beyer while running a decent fourth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).

2. Aaron Halterman (2/1)

• Independence Hall – A win in the Jerome Stakes got this team off to a solid start. He’ll run in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs this weekend. 
• Azul Coast – He got going late in the race to finish second in the Sham Stakes (G3). He is probable for this weekend’s San Vicente Stakes (G2), a 7-furlong sprint that does not offer Kentucky Derby points.
• Authentic – The Sham Stakes (G3) announced his arrival as a major Kentucky Derby contender.
• Little Menace – A nice allowance win at Oaklawn Park shows he that has some ability, though all three of his starts have been at 6 furlongs.
• Alex Joon – He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on December 1; however, he has not returned to the work tab. 

3. 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, but he hasn’t recorded a workout since December 1. It looks like he will get started very late on the Derby trail.
• Toledo – His third-place Holy Bull Stakes (G3) effort was not encouraging. 
• Shoplifted – A decent effort in the Smarty Jones Stakes will keep him around for at least a little while longer. 
• Taraz – She won nicely in the Martha Washington Stakes; however, she will not be facing the boys next time out.

4. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (8/1)

• Thousand Words – Things are looking up for this team after this horse won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) in impressive fashion.
• Ra’ad – He put in a nice 5-furlong work at Santa Anita Park on February 1 as he prepares for his 2020 campaign. 
• Nadal – In a four-way shake, Paul picked up his third horse trained by Bob Baffert.
• Necker Island – A dull effort in the Swale Stakes (G3) was not what this team wanted to see.
• Caracaro – This recent claim earned a 92 Beyer for his impressive maiden special weight score at Gulfstream Park. We’ll see where he ends up next.

5. Real Dynasty (10/1)

• Green Light Go – He was well-beaten in the Swale Stakes (G3), but it was nice to see him kick off his 2020 campaign.
• Mr. Monomoy – His third-place effort in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) was solid, but he might have distance limitations.  
• Soros – A nice win in the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park earned this horse some hype. He hasn’t worked since then, however.
• Silver State – His Lecomte Stakes (G3) runner-up effort was a pretty solid performance. 
• Silver Maker – He has a name!! This could mean the famous fantasy league horse will be entered in a race soon.

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

• Structor – The undefeated turf star will make his first dirt start when he steps onto the Kentucky Derby Trail in 2020, but it is unknown where he will make his first start. His initial recorded workout came on January 25.
• Three Technique – A decent closing kick to finish second in the Smarty Jones Stakes gives him some hope for the future.
• Scabbard – His lackluster Lecomte Stakes (G3) effort was not a good look for this team.
• Country Grammer – This son of Tonalist showed great promise when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct last time out. He’s also back on the workout tab after some time off.
• No Parole – The latest pick up for this team was impressive in two starts at Fair Grounds against fellow Louisiana-breds, but his next scheduled start will stay at that level while stretching out to two turns for the first time. 

7. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (15/1)

• Honor A. P. – There is still no word on this colt’s next start after missing the Sham Stakes (G3), but at least he returned to the work tab. We STILL await his status.
• Storm the Court – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner has recorded three recent works as he prepares for his 2020 debut in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) this weekend.
• Basin – The Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner will likely impact the Derby Trail later in the season after an injury forced him to miss some time. 
• Chance It – He earned a hard-fought victory in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes last time out and is targeting the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) for his next start.
• Great Power – The defending champs are in last place and are turning to Great Power to get them back on track. He broke his maiden on debut on September 29 and just recently returned to the worktab with eyes on the Sunland Derby (G3).

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

• Ancient Warrior – This team’s first-round pick lost to Little Menace in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park. Not a positive sign. 
• 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 was back to work at Santa Anita Park in January and was preparing for a March return, but he 
• Portos – This horse could sneak his way into the Kentucky Derby, but he seems to lack the talent to be a major prospect. 

9. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite (20/1)

• Anneau d’Or – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up will likely make his 2020 debut in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
• 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 in the Southwest Stakes (G3).
• Shotski – He was respectable in the Withers Stakes (G3), but he needs to move forward off of that effort. 
• Max Player – The newest member of the team was an easy winner of the Withers Stakes (G3) last time out. He’s reportedly going to train up to the Wood Memorial (G2).
• Lynn’s Map – His Smarty Jones Stakes effort was a total dud.

10. Brandon “B$” Bauer (30/1)

• Dennis’ Moment – He’s back at the Dale Romans barn after some rest and will look to get things started in March.
• High Velocity – It was good to see this team get points in the Robert B. Lewis (G3); however, this horse was far from impressive. 
• Silver Prospector – His lackluster performance in the Smarty Jones Stakes has to have this team worried. 
• Thunder Code – This maiden was expected to return in March, but he’s running out of time to get back on the worktab.
• Glory Road – He was an impressive maiden special weight winner at Saratoga, but his last workout came on November 19.