Ted Noffey closes at 6-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3

Even though he hasn’t raced since Oct. 31, Ted Noffey strengthened his favoritism for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) when closing as the 6-1 individual favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3.

The pool opened for betting on Friday and closed on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Ted Noffey has been the individual favorite in each of the first three pools, and 6-1 is his lowest price yet, falling from 10-1 in Pool 1 and 7-1 in Pool 2.

Only the ever-popular “All Other Three-Year-Olds” option, which included Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) winner Golden Tempo, settled at a shorter price than Ted Noffey in Pool 3, closing at 7-2.

Bettors may have been encouraged by Ted Noffey’s return to the work tab on Friday. In his first timed exercise since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Ted Noffey worked three furlongs in a bullet :37.01 at Palm Beach Downs. He’s aiming to kick off his sophomore campaign in the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Ted Noffey was the only individual horse to close at single-digit odds in Pool 3. Two others settled at odds less than 20-1: Remsen (G2) winner Paladin (14-1) and recent Gulfstream maiden winner Chief Wallabee (17-1).

Impressive allowance optional claiming winner Nearly (20-1); flashy maiden winners Thunderously (22-1), Cannoneer (24-1), and D’code (28-1); Mucho Macho Man S. winner Commandment (23-1), Del Mar Futurity (G1) conqueror Brant (23-1); and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) hero Further Ado (26-1) all attracted support, closing at under 30-1.

Next in line were Napoleon Solo (30-1), Strategic Risk (30-1), So Happy (32-1), Boyd (34-1), Litmus Test (35-1), Incredibolt (37-1), Renegade (37-1), Englishman (42-1), Blackout Time (43-1), Ewing (48-1), Class President (50-1), Mesquite (57-1), Desert Gate (58-1), Iron Honor (60-1), Mob (62-1), Buetane (78-1), My World (81-1), Chip Honcho (82-1), Secured Freedom (83-1), Intrepido (87-1), Thunder Buck (92-1), and Liberty National (95-1).

White Tiger, Ottinho, Balboa, Waymark, Crown the Buckeye, Express Kid, and Crossingthechannel all closed at 99-1 or higher.

Three more Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools are on the agenda. Pool 4 is slated for Feb. 13-15, followed by Pool 5 from March 13-15 and Pool 6 from April 2-4.