Favorite Ted Noffey wins $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

DEL MAR — Sometimes the hardest part of owning a horse is deciding what to name it. If you own a group of horses, you run out of logical names pretty quickly. You can only play the father’s name a certain number of times. And if you name it after a living person, you need that person’s permission.

But every once in a while, chance is your guide.

Ned Toffey has been general manager of Spendthrift Farm for 21 years. Spendthrift saw an Into Mischief colt he liked and purchased the as-yet-unnamed colt as a yearling for $650,000. Now the hardest part is giving it a name.

Toffey had just finished an interview with a publication and was trying to promote it on social media. The only problem is that they transposed a few early letters and sent a message on X calling longtime Spendthrift executive Ted Noffey. Innocent mistake. Once notified, the issue was fixed, but not before a few screenshots were taken.

John Velazquez smiles after riding Ted Noffey to victory in the Breeders’ Cup juvenile horse race at Del Mar on Friday.

(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Noffey followed the joke.

Now people will remember this colt as the winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, propelling his name to the top of future Kentucky Derby pools.

His victory was no surprise since he won all four of his races, but none were as prestigious on the first day of the two-day Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. Friday’s five races were worth as much as $1 million and nine more on Saturday.

Ted Noffey, the horse, was the favorite and was a length off the lead throughout the 1 1/16 mile race for 2-year-old males, winning by a length.

“It went pretty much the way we thought it would,” coach Todd Pletcher said. “I’m just happy he was able to continue to find more.”

Brant, the $3 million purchase for trainer Bob Baffert, took the lead and was ahead until the end of the final stretch when Ted Noffey passed within a few steps and then continued. He ended up winning by a length over Mr. AP

“I was happy with the trip, [Brant] I’m just tired,” Baffert said. “Missing two rounds caught up with him. He was beaten by a very good horse and they ran very fast. I think he will improve in this race.

Brant finished third and Baffert’s other horse, Litmus Test, finished fourth. Ted Noffey was the favorite and paid $3.60 to win.

The other $2 million race, the Juvenile Fillies, was won by Super Corredora ($19.60 to win), whose last race was a maiden victory, the only time that has happened in this race.

Southern California-based John Sadler had to compete in 42 races before winning his first Breeders’ Cup race in 2018 when he won the Classic with Accelerate.

“My background has been, there was a time when people said he’s the best trainer who hasn’t won a Breeders’ Cup,” Sadler said. “They stopped asking for that after Accelerate. So we’ve won several now. So, I’m very happy with that.

“And as you’re an older trainer, which I am at this point (he’s 69), these are the races you want to win. I think I hold most of the categories here at Del Mar, just behind Baffert – number of wins, number of stakes won and money won. The big days are especially rewarding.”

The 2-year-old filly led the entire 1 1/16-mile race and was the front half of a Southern California exacta, with Baffert’s Explora finishing second. Hector Barrios was the jockey and it was his first Breeders’ Cup victory with a victory by three-quarters of a length.

The first race of the day, the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, was won by Cy Fair ($12.00), a horse named after a Texas high school and trained by George Weaver. Everyone gave Aidan O’Brien a good chance of winning the five-furlong race as he had three horses in the race and his next victory would give him 21, the most ever, breaking the tie with the late Wayne Lukas.

O’Brien had to wait until the last race of the day, the million-dollar Juvenile Turf over one mile, to secure 21st place. Gstaad ($4.40) was the favorite and did not disappoint, losing pace at the top of the straight and winning by three-quarters of a length.

The day’s other Breeders’ Cup race, the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, was won by Balantina ($43.20) by 1 ¼ lengths, the largest margin of the day. She came way off the pace in the one-mile race with a strong stretch for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, Aidan’s son.

The first day of the Breeders’ Cup is reserved for 2-year-old races, but Saturday is where all the money is, $23 million in purses to be exact. It is led by the $7 million Classic, a 1¼ mile race for horses of all ages and genders. The race, and the entire event, took a major blow when Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and the top-ranked horse in the country, was scratched after raising a fever earlier in the week. He was the 6-5 morning line favorite.

Everyone was looking forward to the rematch of Sovereignty and Journalism (5-1 adjusted odds), who finished double in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. McCarthy, who trains journalism and owner Aron Wellman, replaced jockey Umberto Rispoli after they didn’t like his participation in the Pacific Classic. José Ortiz recovered the mount.

“I think it’s unfortunate that Sovereignty isn’t there, but it’s probably one of the best classics we’ve seen in about 20 years,” McCarthy said. “We’re going to bounce back and try to be tactical and try to be four or five steps ahead.”

There should also be some interest in Fierceness (5-2), who won the Pacific Classic after a terrible break when he ducked near the rail that came loose from it. He also designed the one for this race.

“He has to go straight, establish the position he wants and run his race,” coach Todd Pletcher said. “His best run gives him a great chance, if he can achieve it.”

Others in the race include Santa Anita-based Baeza (10-1), who won the Pennsylvania Derby; the Japanese horse Forever Young (7-2), winner of the Saudi Cup; last year’s winner, Sierra Leone (7-2); and Nevada Beach (20-1) for Baffert and winner of the Los Alamitos Derby and Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita.

Another race to watch on Saturday is the $5 million Turf in which Rebel’s Romance attempts to become the first three-time winner of this race and the third horse to win three Breeders’ Cup races, joining Goldikova and Beholder.