Ted Noffey returns from lengthy spell in Dwyer

Ted Noffey, the 2025 champion juvenile colt, will make a long-awaited return to action in the $200,000 Dwyer S. at Belmont Park over one mile on Saturday.

Undefeated at two with scores in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Hopeful (G1), Ted Noffey was an early defector from Kentucky Derby (G1) consideration last winter, when he was taken out of training due to bone bruising. He has been working steadily since August.

“We’ve got him as fit as we can get him without running him. The rest is up to him,” said Stu Hampson, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Nine others were entered in the Dwyer, most intriguingly Sea Strike. The Chad Brown trainee romped by more than eight lengths in the restricted Curlin S. at Saratoga in early August in what was his third career start. Well bet in the Travers (G1) at approximately 7-2, Sea Strike faded to sixth after a close stalking trip.

Of the three other stakes at Belmont on Saturday, the $300,000 Mother Goose (G2) for three-year-old fillies will merit the most attention. That’s due to the presence of Bodacious Bay, a 3 1/4-length winner of the Cotillion (G1) on Sept. 19.

In the Cotillion, where she defeated Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Always a Runner, Bodacious Bay earned her first stakes win and second in five career starts. The Saffie Joseph-trained runner is a daughter of Not This Time. In her stakes debut, she finished second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) in late July.

There is one other Grade 1 winner in the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose, but Iron Orchard has been well beaten in four of her five starts since taking the Frizette (G1) last October. She finished more than 20 lengths adrift of Bodacious Bay in the Cotillion.