Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Risen Star Split Makes for Major Weekend

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

• Real Dynasty CLAIMED Sole Volante and DROPPED Silver Maker

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. Perhaps he can regain their confidence with a better effort in an allowance on Saturday’s Risen Star undercard.
• Enforceable – His nice Lecomte Stakes (G3) win was visually impressive. We’ll see if he can do it again this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
• Tizamagician – The team mascot earned a career-best 89 Beyer while running a decent fourth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). He is reportedly going to take a short break and may ship to Dubai for the U.A.E. Derby (G2).

2. Aaron Halterman (2/1)

• Independence Hall – The Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) didn’t go the way that this team had hoped, but he did run well enough to stay on the trail. 
• Azul Coast – He got going late in the race to finish second in the Sham Stakes (G3). He is probable for this weekend’s El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate.
• Authentic – The Sham Stakes (G3) announced his arrival as a major Kentucky Derby contender.
• Little Menace – A nice allowance win at Oaklawn Park showed that he 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. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (7/2)

• Thousand Words – Things are looking up for this team after this horse won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) in impressive fashion.
• Ra’ad – After running fourth in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), he may ship to Dubai for the U.A.E. Derby (G2).
• Nadal – In a four-way shake, Paul picked up his third horse trained by Bob Baffert, but this one might end up being his best. His San Vicente Stakes (G2) win was very impressive. He’ll likely go to the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park next time out. 
• 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.

4. Jared Welch (12/1)

• 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, if at all.
• 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.

5. Real Dynasty (12/1)

• 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. He runs in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend.
• 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. He’ll run in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend.
• Sole Volante – He’s back in the league! A month after Jon and Ryan dropped him, he impressively won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), so the Dynasty boys picked him up. Unfortunately, it was at the cost of Hip 406.

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. He will hope to turn it around in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend.
• 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 – An easy stakes win at Delta Downs while facing fellow Louisiana-breds could lead to a try against open company next time out. 

7. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (20/1)

• Honor A. P. – It took several weeks after he missed the Sham Stakes (G3), but we finally have an update on his status: he’s currently pointing to the San Felipe Stakes (G2).
• Storm the Court – His San Vicente Stakes (G2) effort was not what they wanted to see, but he should improve off of that effort. 
• 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 have turned 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. Dan “Wise Dan” Waite (20/1)

• Anneau d’Or – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up will make his 2020 debut in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) this weekend.
• 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 at Tampa Bay Downs against allowance company.
• Shotski – He was a respectable second 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.  Let’s see if he improves this weekend in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).

9. Brandon “B$” Bauer (30/1)

• Dennis’ Moment – He’s back at the Dale Romans barn after some rest and has been working steadily toward making his 2020 debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).
• 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. 

10. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (50/1)

• 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 a little bit to finish third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), but he didn’t show a strong turn of foot.
• Answer In – His first stakes effort was solid, finishing a tough-luck second in the Remington Park Springboard Mile.
• American Theorem – He was back on the worktab on January 12 at Santa Anita Park and was preparing for a March return, but his most recent recorded effort came on January 26.
• Portos – This horse could sneak his way into the Kentucky Derby, but he seems to lack the talent to be a major prospect.