America
On paper, it appeared to be the battle of the 'TDN Rising Stars in Saratoga's closing day feature, the GI Hopeful Stakes. Come race day, it appeared to be more of a procession as Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) made it look like his rivals were tied to a post as he rolled home a commanding 8 1/2-length winner in only his second lifetime start for trainer Todd Pletcher, who was winning his fourth Hopeful.
Smooth as silk out of the gate, Ted Noffey, sent off the 7-2 third choice, was eased back by John Velazquez, who allowed Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) to take over and lead the field through a :23.16 opening quarter.
Meanwhile, fellow Rising Star and race favorite Buetane (Tis the Law), a $1.15 million OBS April purchase trained by Bob Baffert, settled at the back of the leading pack with another Rising Star, Curtain Call (Tiz the Law), hemmed in along the rail, about four lengths behind the pace.
Still in front after a half in :46.30, Soldier N Diplomat started to feel the pressure intensify as Ted Noffey drew up alongside to his outside with Buetane and Curtain Call in hot pursuit.
With several horses in contention, the appearance that anyone might win as the juveniles straightened for home proved to be nothing more than an illusion as Ted Noffey shifted into another gear, took flight down the lane and under moderate urging by his Hall of Fame partner, the grey colt rolled home a much-the-best winner over Buetane, who outlasted Curtain Call late.
“He (traveled) a lot better than I thought he would. He's still a baby. It's (turn of foot) incredible,” said Velazquez, who won three Grade Is for Pletcher over the past 48 hours. “It's like, I'm galloping, galloping, and before he passed horses he kind of (tried to) get away, so I just showed him the whip and he got onto the bridle a little sooner than I wanted to, but you could tell once he got there, he was going to win it.”
Was Pletcher surprised that the fast-breaking colt, who was exiting post 8, was allowed to settle back in the early going?
“That's the great thing about having that post. You can let the race unfold and not commit to anything,” said Pletcher. “He looked like he was traveling comfortably. You wouldn't want to take anything away that came easily but he didn't necessarily have to improve his position right away either.”
“That's the great thing about having that post (8). You can let the race unfold and not commit to anything.” - Todd Pletcher
As for the beaten favorite, jockey Flavien Prat said,
“I had a good trip. He ran his race and just got beat by better today. I thought I was in a good position outside in the clear and in a quiet spot, and then as the race picked it up, he made a run, just not as good as the winner.”
Hardly a secret when he stepped onto the track for his debut at the Spa, Ted Noffey came from just off the pace to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths over Criteria (Yaupon) and becoming a TDN Rising Star in the process.
“He really trained well since his debut,” said Pletcher. “He trained well going into that but came back and I thought his breezes were quite good. He gave us the feeling he was moving forward. You never know when you jump into a race like this with a lot of horses coming off impressive wins, but that was good and maybe even more than we expected.”
“He trained well going into that but came back and I thought his breezes were quite good.” - Todd Pletcher
According to Pletcher, the colt is likely to head to the GI Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 4 for his next start.
“I would think Keeneland would be a likely spot,” he affirmed.
Todd Pletcher | Image courtesy of West Point Thoroughbreds
Saratoga's closing weekend was also highlighted by another Spendthrift-owned TDN Rising Star, Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), who took Saturday's GI Spinaway Stakes. The filly is also trained by Pletcher.
“It's really special,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey about winning Saratoga's juvenile features. “You think Ted Noffey has pressure? Tommy Jo is named after Tammy and Eric Gustavson's first grandchild. So, Tommy Jo really had a lot of pressure on her. That's so gratifying because that's a homebred and incorporates everything that we do–the whole nine yards. To get a sweep of these two races, especially for me who grew up a little over an hour from here (in Great Barrington, MA), that's pretty special.”
Pedigree Notes: Ted Noffey is the 27th Grade I winner for Spendthrift's marquee sire, Into Mischief. The grey is the second foal–and winner–for SW and MGSP Streak of Luck. The 10-year-old mare is also responsible for a yearling filly by Munnings and a full-brother to Ted Noffey foaled this season. She was bred back to Not This Time.
Bred by Aaron and Marie Jones, the Kentucky-bred was secured by Spendthrift Farm for $650,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale.
