Ted Noffey, the undefeated 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and early Kentucky Derby favorite, has returned to training as a 3-year-old, recently breezing three furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and owned by Spendthrift Farm, Ted Noffey is targeting the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, a key prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Currently leading the Derby leaderboard with 40 qualifying points, Ted Noffey is positioned well for the May 2 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher also plans to run another promising 3-year-old, Nearly, in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park. Nearly, a son of Not This Time, has shown significant improvement after a slow debut and recently worked a strong half-mile breeze. Both the Fountain of Youth and Holy Bull Stakes offer valuable Kentucky Derby qualifying points, helping shape the field for the Derby’s 20-horse limit.