Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: It’s Almost Derby Week

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.

Here are the latest transactions and scoring updates:

Current Standings

Current Remaining Points Race Schedule

20-10-5-1:

• September 5: Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs
• September 5: Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga

Recent Claims

• NONE 

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 (2/5)

• Tiz the Law – This superstar will likely bring Magic Mike a fantasy league championship.
• Modernist – He has completely fallen off of his earlier form after two straight poor efforts and has not worked since July.
• Dr Post – He came up empty in the Haskell Stakes (G1), which was a very winnable race.
• Enforceable – Like normal, he came running late but could do no better than fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2). 
• Tizamagician – After another loss, expect to see him back on Kentucky Derby day – in an allowance at Del Mar.

2. Aaron Halterman (5/2)

• Art Collector – He’s stamped himself as the main challenger to Tiz the Law after winning the Ellis Park Derby.
• Azul Coast – He did very little running in his turf debut. 
• Authentic – He won the Haskell Stakes (G1), but he doesn’t look he wants any part of a 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. 
• Little Menace – His Ellis Park Derby effort was not very good.
• Pneumatic – A solid win in the Pegasus Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park has him reportedly heading to the Preakness Stakes (G1).

3. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (4/1)

• Thousand Words – Boom! He’s back in top form after a solid 104 Beyer speed figure earned him a victory in the Shared Belief Stakes. 
• Cezanne – He’s officially off the trail after a poor effort in the Shared Belief Stakes. 
• Nadal – Unfortunately, he came up lame after a workout and is reportedly heading off to stud duty.
• Necker Island – This horse is going to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate, despite some rough patches earlier this year.
• Caracaro – This horse turned out to be a fantastic claim, despite an injury that set him back earlier in the year. He came with a big run to finish second in the Travers Stakes (G1).

4. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (50/1)

• Honor A. P. – He was a disappointing second in the Shared Belief Stakes, but he should enjoy the much longer Kentucky Derby distance. 
• Cafe Pharoah – This claim turned into a flop after it was announced that he will not make the trip from Japan for the Kentucky Derby. 
• Basin – His connections are cutting him back to one turn after a lackluster performance in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2).
• Tap It to Win – He was nowhere to be found in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1).  
• Uncle Chuck – He was a major flop in the Travers Stakes (G1).

5. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector (99/1)

• Structor – He’s out for the year with minor injuries that keep popping up.
• Ny Traffic – This colt nearly pulled off a big upset in the Haskell Stakes (G1), finishing second to Authentic. 
• Charlatan – He was finally disqualified from winning the Arkansas Derby (G1), costing Slim 50 points. 
• Country Grammer – He proved to just not be good enough to compete with the top of his class in the Travers Stakes (G1). It looks like he will skip the Kentucky Derby. 
• No Parole – He suffered his first sprinting loss in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1). 

6. Real Dynasty (99/1)

• Green Light Go – He has struggled to run well or even stay healthy all season.
• Happy Saver – He could be bound for the Preakness Stakes (G1) after an impressive victory at Saratoga. There is also a chance he draws into the Kentucky Derby if enough horses opt out.
• Creed – This up-and-comer will point towards the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) for his next start. 
• Rushie – A solid third-place effort in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) means he’s in the Derby – if his connections nominate him. 
• Sole Volante – He surprisingly did not run a step in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and will be training up to the Kentucky Derby without a prep race.

7. Jared Welch (99/1)

• Candy Tycoon – The newest member of the team sucked in an allowance race at Saratoga. 
• Eight Rings – He sucked again (big surprise) in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1). 
• Toledo – He put up another sucky performance in a recent allowance race at Churchill Downs. 
• Shoplifted – He did his normal sucky run in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1). 
• Ete Indien – He’s now pointed to the Preakness Stakes (G1), where he’ll probably suck.

8. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite (99/1)

• Sonneman – LOL… he is so bad. 
• Swiss Skydiver – This filly is an absolute superstar and will run in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) next.
• Man in the Can – He ran how you’d expect an Arkansas-bred to do in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2). 
• Max Player – This honest horse always shows up with a solid effort. 
• Mystic Guide – His Peter Pan Stakes (G3) third-place effort was decent, but he still has a long way to go. He’s pointing towards the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).

9. Brandon “B$” Bauer (99/1)

• Dennis’ Moment – Once the most hyped horse in the class at age 2, he raced just once this year before falling off of the Kentucky Derby trail.
• High Velocity – It was good to see this team get points in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), but he was far from impressive. He recently returned to the work tab.
• Silver Prospector – He was a no-show once again in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Thunder Code – We have not seen this maiden since he was drafted and chances are slim that we ever will.
• Major Fed – His second-place finish in the Indiana Derby (G3) could go a long way toward keeping this team out of last place. 

10. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (99/1)

• Mischevious Alex – He failed to earn this team any points in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1).
• Mr. Big News – He sucked in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2). 
• Shivaree – He sucked once again in the Travers Stakes (G1).
• King Guillermo – He’s been training straight to the Kentucky Derby for several months now, so he should be as ready as any horse.
• Wells Bayou – Trainer Brad Cox announced on June 10 that he is off the Derby trail due to bone bruising.