Plot twist on the Road to the Derby: champion Ted Noffey is out due to injury

The undefeated colt, who had returned to training a few weeks ago, has a bone bruise and will not make it to the opening of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs

Ted Noffey and a huge disappointment at the start of the season / KEENELAND

PALM BEACH, Florida (Special for Turf Diario).— The Triple Crown dream ended before it even began for the top-rated colt of the latest generation in the United States. Spendthrift Farm officially announced this Thursday that Ted Noffey, the reigning 2025 Champion 2-Year-Old, has been withdrawn from the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) after being diagnosed with a bone bruise (edema óseo).

The grey son of Into Mischief, trained by Todd Pletcher, showed signs of discomfort following his latest 800-meter workout (50.81) on January 23 at Palm Beach Downs. After an exhaustive evaluation, the veterinary team determined that the colt is suffering from issues in his condyles, an injury that, while not life-threatening, requires mandatory rest.

An Impossible Void to Fill

“Out of precaution, we examined him thoroughly, and the diagnosis requires about 90 days to resolve the issue. We expect to resume training around May 1st,” explained Pletcher. With the Kentucky Derby scheduled for May 2nd, the timing is mathematically impossible.

Ted Noffey's withdrawal is a massive blow to the sport. The colt was undefeated in 4 starts, having strung together an iconic G1 hat-trick: the Hopeful Stakes, the Breeders' Futurity, and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was the heavy favorite in future wagers (6-1) and was looking to become only the third horse in history to complete the Juvenile-Derby double, a feat only achieved by Street Sense (Street Cry) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo).

The Official Word

Ned Toffey, General Manager of Spendthrift Farm, appeared resigned yet firm in the decision: "We are disappointed, but the priority is his long-term health. With proper rest, we are confident he will return to compete in the summer and fall." This means he will miss not only the Derby but also the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park and the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Without its main star, the landscape toward the Run for the Roses remains wide open. However, Spendthrift still holds a strong hand in Brad Cox's barn with Further Ado (Gun Runner), winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).