Avenue Sense and Nyquist are the one winners of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to take the Kentucky Derby (G1). Ted Noffey is not going to be the third.
Coach Todd Pletcher introduced Thursday that the undefeated son of prime sire Into Mischief is off the Triple Crown path and sidelined indefinitely due to a bone bruise. He breezed 4 furlongs in 50.81 seconds on Jan. 23 at Palm Seashore Downs. Pletcher mentioned the horse confirmed indicators of discomfort after that breeze, his second in per week.
“I wasn’t proud of the best way he was shifting the final couple of days,” Pletcher mentioned. “We bought him evaluated, and he’s bought some bone bruising. We’re going to provide him 90 days off and hopefully have him again for Saratoga. We’ll look to renew coaching across the first of Might.
“It’s irritating, disappointing, however we’ve bought to do the appropriate factor by the horse.”
The plan was for Ted Noffey to make his 3-year-old debut Feb. 28 within the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. As an alternative, he’ll convalesce at Stonestreet Farm in Ocala, Fla., Pletcher mentioned.
Spendthrift Farm’s grey colt swept his 4 begins final 12 months, together with the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, and BC Juvenile at Del Mar, all Grade 1 occasions. On Jan. 22 he was awarded the 2-Yr-Outdated Male Eclipse Award after receiving 218 of 220 doable votes. On this century the one 2-year-old champions who received the Derby are Nyquist (2015, 2016), American Pharoah (2014, 2015) and Avenue Sense (2006, 2007).
Ted Noffey dominated his races by a complete margin of 11¾ lengths however couldn’t overcome the impediment of historical past. In addition to the poor report of 2-year-old champions and Juvenile winners at 3, there’s this foreboding statistic: Ted Noffey is the 16th consecutive Derby winter-book favourite who not solely received’t win the race however received’t even make it to the beginning gate.
He was the 8-1 favourite within the Las Vegas winter e book and the 6-1 particular person betting alternative within the latest first Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Spendthrift’s basic supervisor is Ned Toffey, whose title was botched in a launch. As a goof, the transposed first letters led to the horse’s title.
“Clearly, we’re disillusioned,” Toffey mentioned. “However after discussions with Todd, the veterinary crew and house owners Eric and Tammy Gustavson, we’re all in settlement that giving the colt day without work is the appropriate determination. Our precedence is his long-term well being and profession.
“With correct relaxation and turnout, we’re hopeful he’ll be again and able to compete later this summer season and fall.”
Ed McNamara is an award-winning racing author who has lined the game since 1981 for The Bergen (N.J.) File, Newsday, ESPN, Thorocap, and USRacing. He’s the creator of Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown and Racing Across the World, and a contributor to The Most Superb Crown and The Racetracks of America. He has additionally written for racing publications in France and Italy.
