DEL MAR, CA – Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey ($3.60) lived up to his billing as the favorite, turning back a fierce stretch challenge to win the 42nd running of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Friday at Del Mar.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Ted Noffey covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.25 over a fast track. The victory marked Pletcher’s 16th career Breeders’ Cup win and fifth in the Juvenile, while Velazquez notched his 22nd World Championships victory and third Juvenile triumph, all aboard Pletcher trainees.
The Race: A Duel for Supremacy
From the moment the gates opened, the much-anticipated showdown between Ted Noffey and Brant materialized exactly as expected. Brant broke sharply and set the pace through fractions of :23.46, :46.99, and 1:10.82, with Ted Noffey tracking comfortably to his outside.
As the field rounded the far turn, Velazquez allowed Ted Noffey to move up alongside Brant, the two undefeated colts matching strides as they straightened for home. Brant dug in gamely inside, but Ted Noffey’s class began to shine through in the final furlong. In deep stretch, he repelled the challenge, while Mr. A.P. closed strongly to grab second by a half-length over a tiring Brant.
Brant held third by a neck over stablemate Litmus Test, with Intrepido and Comport rounding out the field.
Pletcher and Velazquez React
“It pretty much unfolded like we thought it would. Just glad that he was able to keep finding more. He fought back. I thought for a second like, ‘Oh man.’ But when they came to him, he kind of got serious again.”
Velazquez echoed that confidence in the post-race interview.
“Broke well, got my hands pretty loose on him, I didn’t take a hold of him. The horse in front was the horse to beat. He (Ted Noffey) made it easy for me. I was very confident. The only thing he did a little bit was he idled really bad at the eighth pole, getting to that shadow between the building, and he kind of waited. After that, he passed the shadow and the two horses came in and he went back in and re-engaged again. He’s an easy horse to ride, really, that’s it. Just let him do his thing and he’s happy, as he’s done every single race.”
The Rising Star
A Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Old Fashioned mare Streak of Luck, Ted Noffey has now won three Grade 1 races from four starts. The Juvenile victory was worth $1,040,000, boosting his career earnings to $1,658,763.
The Challengers Speak
Runner-up trainer Vladimir Cerin praised his colt’s (Mr. A.P.) effort:
“I was very happy with the way he closed. I think he has room to improve. I like his running style. He can stay close to the pace but doesn’t have to be on the lead and he kicked turning for home so I’m very proud of him.”
Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who saddled Brant, saw plenty of positives:
“I was happy with the trip, he just got tired. The lack of two turns caught up with him. He was beat by a real good horse, and they ran really fast. I think he will move way up off this race. (Ted Noffey) is a big, good looking horse and Todd had him ready. He looked great in the paddock. Todd is just so tough in these races.”
Jockey Flavien Prat agreed with that assessment:
“Honestly, he ran his race. I honestly felt like Johnny (Velazquez – on Ted Noffey) was in control of me. I never felt like I could get away from him. Then he went by, and it’s looks like I’m coming back but I think that was kind of Ted Noffey idling in front. It looks like I was going to come back, but honestly, I thought it was an honest race and no excuses.”
Looking Ahead
Ted Noffey’s victory cements him as the early favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, giving Pletcher yet another rising star in his powerful juvenile arsenal. With his blend of tactical speed, professionalism, and pedigree, the Spendthrift colt has stamped himself as the top 2-year-old in the country — and possibly the next superstar in the making.
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