Ted Noffey returned to training and begins preparing his comeback

Undefeated in four career outings and winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the 2025 champion 2-year-old turned in his first official workout since January at Saratoga; Todd Pletcher expressed great satisfaction with his progress, though he has yet to determine where the colt will make his return

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York—One of the brightest stars from the 2023 crop in the United States returned to center stage. Ted Noffey, undefeated champion 2-year-old colt of the previous season, turned in his first official workout since January this Monday at Saratoga, taking a major step forward on the comeback trail.

The Todd Pletcher trainee breezed three furlongs over the main track in 38.33 seconds, marking his first timed exercise since January 23 at Palm Meadows, Florida. Shortly after that drill, the colt was forced to pause his campaign when diagnosed with bone bruising, an injury that demanded time and sidelined him throughout the first half of the season.

It was a long wait, but the latest updates are encouraging. Prior to arriving in Saratoga on August 2 to rejoin Pletcher's barn, Ted Noffey completed a pair of preliminary workouts at Ian Brennan's farm in Ocala.

"He moved well. It's great to have him back, he looks tremendous and has filled out nicely. We're really happy with where he's at," Pletcher noted after observing the exercise.

While taking a cautious approach after several months away, the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer remains confident that Ted Noffey won't require an extended period to regain peak fitness. For now, however, no target race has been set, and future plans will depend entirely on how he responds in upcoming breezes.

The racing calendar presents a few appealing options. On September 19, Churchill Downs hosts a pair of $300,000 stakes restricted to 3-year-olds: the Harrods Creek Stakes over seven furlongs and the Bourbon Flight Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Both stand as potential landing spots, though Pletcher has yet to commit to a specific route.

A Stellar Campaign

The anticipation surrounding Ted Noffey's return is easily understood when reviewing his flawless juvenile campaign. He won on debut before stepping straight into top-level company to capture the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. He followed up at Keeneland by taking the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1).

His season finale proved even more impressive. At Del Mar, he powered home in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), preserving his unbeaten record and clinching champion 2-year-old male honors in the United States.

That championship campaign made him an early favorite along the trail to the Kentucky Derby (G1), but the early-year setback altered those plans entirely. His connections opted to play it safe, granting him all the time needed to fully recover.

Now, several months later, the champion is back in motion.

There is no rush and no fixed target date. For Pletcher, the primary objective was getting Ted Noffey back in the barn, watching him physically mature, and verifying that the injury halting his campaign is firmly behind him.

The Saratoga clock caught him in 38.33 seconds—just three furlongs, a routine workout without undue pressure. Yet, for Ted Noffey, it signified much more: the first steps back for one of the most anticipated horses on the American circuit.