Ted Noffey stretches out in Breeders' Futurity

Ted Noffey made a statement in the Hopeful (G1) on Labor Day, pummeling the opposition in recording an 8 1/2-length victory. The gray will attempt to make another one Saturday at Keeneland when he stretches out to 1 1/16 miles in the $650,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1).

The Breeders' Futurity is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race and also offers qualifying points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) to the respective top five finishers (10-5-3-2-1).

A physically imposing son of Into Mischief, Ted Noffey improved his record to 2-for-2 in the seven-furlong Hopeful. He races for Spendthrift Farm and is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has won the Breeders' Futurity in recent years with champion Forte (2022) and Locked (2023).

Big Dom dives into deep waters following a photo-finish debut win at Saratoga, going six furlongs, while the slightly more experienced Ewing enters off a freshening following a one-length tally in the Saratoga Special (G2). Spice Runner was a grinding, head-winner of the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs last time, while three-time Breeders' Futurity-winning trainer Kenny McPeek saddles Blackout Time, a 9 3/4-length graduate at Ellis Park in early August.

The field is rounded out by Litmus Test, a non-threatening fourth to fellow Bob Baffert trainee Brant in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), and Diciassette, who captured the minor Proud Man S. at Gulfstream most recently.

The other main track stakes scheduled for the Saturday program is the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a six-furlong dash that will offer an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Grade 1 veteran Vahva, whose previous runs at Keeneland include a win in the 2023 Raven Run (G2) and a second in the 2024 Madison (G1), has shown improved form of late while winning the Chicago (G3), running second to Mystic Lake in the Pink Ribbon S. at Charles Town. However, the TCA will be the shortest race she has contested since her debut, which was more than three years ago.

Zeitlos is the defending titlist in the TCA and should appreciate the return to dirt after losing on the grass in her last two starts. There are a trio of three-year-olds stepping up to face older, including the 21-1 Prioress (G3) upsetter Praying.