Ted Noffey returns after 13 months, leaving more questions than answers

The 2025 champion 2-year-old colt could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Dwyer Stakes (G3), where Stimulatedominated by 7 1/2 lengths; Todd Pletcher acknowledged a lack of punch and will now re-evaluate next steps alongside Spendthrift Farm

ELMONT, New York (Special Correspondent).— The return of Ted Noffey to the track was surrounded by high expectations. Following a flawless 2-year-old campaign crowned by a formidable victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the son of Into Mischief resurfaced Saturday at Belmont Park after a 13-month layoff, but fell well short of living up to his credentials. He could manage no better than fifth in the Dwyer Stakes (L-1600m, US$ 200,000), delivering a performance that surely raised a few red flags for his connections.

The undefeated record he compiled during 2025—featuring 4 wins from as many starts, including three Group 1 titles—became a distant memory following a rather lackluster display. John Velazquez settled him in a tracking position just off the leaders, but when the time came to accelerate, the champion offered no response.

Todd Pletcher, his trainer, acknowledged that the prolonged layoff may have played a decisive role in the outcome."He was probably lacking a bit of race fitness after such a long time away. Johnny told me he had him in a good position and that he traveled comfortably enough, but he ended up staying on one pace and couldn't find that finishing kick," he explained.

The conditioner added: "It was a race run at a very fast tempo, and past the wire he actually galloped out quite well. In fact, Johnny had a hard time pulling him up. What happened was that he just couldn't turn on the speed when he needed to make his move."

Pletcher's assessment accurately captured what unfolded on the track. Ted Noffey never posed a serious threat,finishing behind Stimulate (Tapit), Sea Strike (Midshipman), Igniter (Volatile), and Bravaro (Upstart), failing to display the explosive power that had made him one of the most promising prospects in American racing.

"When you have an undefeated champion 2-year-old, you always want to win. But we were also realistic: he was coming off a 13-month layoff, and this was a tough assignment for a comeback. We'll talk with the team at Spendthriftand map out a plan," noted Pletcher, offering no immediate indication of where his next target might be.

While Ted Noffey disappointed, Stimulate seized the opportunity to record the finest victory of his career. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the son of Tapit and the notable Elate (Medaglia D'Oro) tracked the pace,took command entering the stretch, and drew off to win by a decisive 7 1/2 lengths over Sea Strike, stopping the clock in 1:33.64 for the mile.

"We always believed he was a high-quality horse. Bill did a fantastic job getting him ready, and today he delivered a huge performance," highlighted Alvarado, who celebrated another major success alongside Mott just a week after their triumph in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with Sovereignty (Into Mischief).

The victory for Stimulate, who now boasts 3 wins from 5 starts, stood in sharp contrast to the uncertainty left in Ted Noffey's wake.

For the Spendthrift Farm champion, the immediate challenge will be proving that this effort was merely a symptom of rustiness. His immense class is backed by a proven track record, but the sheer dominance he displayed as a juvenile was nowhere to be seen on Saturday. Rather than clearing up doubts, his comeback only raised a few more.