Racing Dudes Fantasy League Update: Three Derby Preps this 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. Let’s check out all of the latest transactions and scoring updates:

Current Standings

Recent Claims

• Austin Elsey and Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto CLAIMED Portos and DROPPED Finnick the Fierce 

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. 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 next weekend. 
• Azul Coast – He got going late in the race to finish second in the Sham Stakes (G3).
• Authentic – The Sham Stakes (G3) announced his arrival as a major Kentucky Derby contender.
• Little Menace – After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs, he was sent to Oaklawn Park for the spring.
• Alex Joon – He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on December 1; however, he has not returned to the work tab. 

2. The Magic Mike Show (5/2)

• Tiz the Law – The Champagne Stakes (G1) winner is targeting this weekend’s Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park for his 3-year-old debut. 
• Bellavia – An impressive maiden special weight win at Belmont Park has this horse getting plenty of hype. He has yet to work since that October 23 win, though.
• Chestertown – The team tried dropping him after his poor race at Fair Grounds but lost the shake for Nadal. 
• Enforceable – His nice win in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) was visually impressive.
• Tizamagician – The team mascot earned a maiden-breaking victory at Santa Anita Park on New Year’s Day. This weekend’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) is up next.

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; however, he hasn’t had a recorded workout since December 1. He is said to be targeting the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
• Toledo – His recent runner-up effort in a Gulfstream Park allowance event was not encouraging. He’ll give it another go this weekend in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3).
• Shoplifted – A decent effort in the Smarty Jones Stakes will keep him around for at least a little while longer. 
• Taraz – The big filly gets her 3-year-old campaign started this weekend in the Martha Washington Stakes. 

4. Real Dynasty (6/1)

• Green Light Go – Impressive as a 2-year-old, he is back to work after a small break.
• 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.
• Silver State – His Lecomte Stakes (G3) runner-up effort was a pretty solid performance. 
• (Empire Maker/Silver Colors) – Still no name for the most famous horse in the league.

5. Jon White/Ryan Stillman (10/1)

• 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 await his status.
• Storm the Court – The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner has had three recent workouts as he prepares for his 2020 debut in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
• 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. 
• Untitled – The newest member of the team will try to build off of an impressive debut maiden victory that saw him sell privately and change barns to Mark Casse.

6. Paul “Free Beers” Withrow (10/1)

• Thousand Words – The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner has worked impressively at Santa Anita Park and will run in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) this weekend.
• Ra’ad – He put in a nice 5-furlong work at Santa Anita Park on January 18 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 – After two victories at Churchill Downs, this colt is now working steadily at Palm Meadows. He’ll run this weekend in the Swale Stakes (G3)
• Caracaro – This recent claim earned a 92 Beyer for his impressive maiden special weight score at Gulfstream Park. Let’s see what he can do against stakes company this weekend in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3).

7. Austin Elsey/Steve “Evil Steveil” Ronchetto (15/1)

• Ancient Warrior – Plenty of hype surrounds this Del Mar maiden special weight winner who will spend the spring at Oaklawn Park. He is targeting an allowance sprint on February 2 for his 3-year-old debut.
• 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’s back to work at Santa Anita Park and is preparing for a March return.
• Portos – The newest member of the team is scheduled to run this weekend in the Withers Stakes (G3).

8. 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 he hasn’t been seen since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
• 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 has been impressive in two starts at Fair Grounds, but his next start is scheduled to be against fellow Louisiana-breds as he stretches out to two turns for the first time. 

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 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate.
• 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.
• Shotski – A big win in the Remsen Stakes (G2) showed that this horse could be for real. He should show up this weekend in the Withers Stakes (G3). 
• Sonneman – He broke his maiden nicely at Belmont Park in October; however, he has no recorded workouts since. 
• Lynn’s Map – His Smarty Jones Stakes was a total dud effort. 

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 – He’s been working steadily at Santa Anita Park after finishing third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
• Silver Prospector – His lackluster performance in the Smarty Jones Stakes has to have this team worried. 
• Thunder Code – This maiden will likely return in March.
• Glory Road – He was an impressive maiden special weight winner at Saratoga; however, his last workout came on November 19.