Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: It’s Travers 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:

• August 15: Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park
  
• September 5: Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs
• September 5: Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga

50-25-10-5:

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 (3/5)

• Tiz the Law – This horse is easily the top 3-year-old in the country after dominating the Belmont Stakes (G1). He runs in Saturday’s Travers Stakes (G1).
• Modernist – He has completely fallen off of his earlier form after two straight poor efforts.
• 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, he is now undeniably nothing more than the team mascot. 

2. Aaron Halterman (5/2)

• Art Collector – A big win in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) makes him a prime Kentucky Derby contender. We’ll see him in Sunday’s Ellis Park Derby. 
• Azul Coast – He did no running at all in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), showing that he is not the top-level 3-year-old that many expected. 
• 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 – He won the Derby! Too bad it was just the Grand Prairie Derby at Lone Star. 
• Pneumatic – His Belmont Stakes (G1) effort wasn’t bad, but his fourth-place finish showed that he is not a top-level member of this crop. He also run this weekend in the Ellis Park Derby. 

3. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (9/2)

• 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 – He showed some improvement with his new barn, finishing third in the Indiana Derby (G3).
• Caracaro – His return to the races was pretty impressive when he came up just short in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3). He’ll try to keep improving this weekend in the Travers Stakes (G1).

3. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (8/1)

• 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 – A big win in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) has this team in prime position to make a final push for the top. Saturday’s Travers Stakes (G1) is next.

5. Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector (50/1)

• 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 – Just like Slim predicted in December, Country Grammer won the Peter Pan Stakes (G3)! We’ll see him this weekend in the Travers Stakes (G1).
• 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.
• 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 try to turn things around in Sunday’s Ellis Park Derby.

7. Jared Welch (99/1)

• Candy Tycoon – The newest member of the team sucked in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3).
• 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 – A minor setback made him miss sucking in a final prep and another minor setback reportedly has him 50/50 of even making it to the Derby, where he’d probably suck.

8. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite (99/1)

• Sonneman – LOL… he is so bad. 
• Swiss Skydiver – She ran well in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) but came up just a bit short and will return to the filly ranks moving forward.
• Man in the Can – He ran how you’d expect an Arkansas-bred to do in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2). 
• Max Player – He returned from a long layoff and closed nicely to finish third in the Belmont Stakes (G1). We’ll see him Saturday in the Travers Stakes (G1).
• 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 also sucked in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2); however, at least he has enough points to run in the Kentucky Derby. He’s pointing towards this weekend’s Travers Stakes (G1).
• King Guillermo – He looks like a good claim after he running a solid second in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He’s reportedly training straight to the Kentucky Derby, so he will be of no help to the last-place team until the end of the season.
• Wells Bayou – Trainer Brad Cox announced on June 10 that he is off the Derby trail due to bone bruising.