Champion Ted Noffey on course for Fountain of Youth

While Florida’s Road to the Kentucky Derby begins Jan. 31 with the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), north of Gulfstream Park, the newly crowned champion of last year’s 2-year-old men’s division is busy preparing for his 3-year-old debut at the end of next month

Trainer Todd Pletcher named the undefeated 2-year-old male champion Ted Noffey is training well at Palm Beach Downs and is on track to enter the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park for his first start since a season win in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

“It’s had two nice breezes since we got it going again. So everything is on schedule for the Fountain of Youth.’ Pletcher said of the son of Spendthrift Farm In mischief . “We didn’t expect him to grow much, but he has filled out nicely. As a 2-year-old he was quite a big colt. With some 2-year-olds you need them to really change and improve physically at the age of 3, but with him we were already there.
‘So far we are satisfied’

Ted Noffey flew 4 furlongs in:50.81 on January 23, and before that he flew 3 furlongs in:37.01 on January 16.

While his efforts in the upcoming preparations for the Kentucky Derby (G1) will determine his status as a Triple Crown contender, he is already in excellent shape in terms of qualifying points for the May 2 Run for the Roses.

A winner of all four of his matches starts at 2 – including a trio of Grade 1 wins – he already has 40 qualifying points. He received 30 points for winning the Juvenile Sea and 10 for capturing the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) op Keeneland. Last year, the 18th and final American participant in the 1 1/4 mile classic had 39 points, and 50 points was a safe number to get a spot at the start.

With the Fountain of Youth awarding 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers, crossing the wire in fourth or better should secure the colt a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

The March 28 Florida Derby (G1) would be a likely venue for Ted Noffey’s second and final preparation for the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher has won the 1 1/8 mile stakes a record eight times, including 2017 with Always dreaming, who was the last Florida Derby winner to triumph in the opening jewel of the Triple Crown.

Ted Noffey was bred in Kentucky by Aaron and Marie Jones LLC from the old-fashioned mare Streak of Luck. It was purchased for $650,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency’s consignment at the Keeneland September Sale.

In the Eclipse Award voting, Ted Noffey received 218 of the 220 first-place votes cast.