Undefeated Ted Noffey Breezes; G2 FOY Targeted

Skippylongstocking Works for G1 Pegasus World Cup
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $275,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Ted Noffey breezed three furlongs in 37.01 seconds Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs in his first workout since closing out his undefeated 2-year-old season with a victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said he will target the $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park for the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief’s 2026 debut.

“It went super. Everything went great. He did it well in hand with good enthusiasm. It seems like he’s maintained his fitness level fairly well, so we’re very pleased,” Pletcher said.

Ted Noffey is 4-for-4 heading into his 3-year-old campaign, having followed up a debut victory with Grade 1 successes in the Hopeful at Saratoga, Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

“He’s put on some weight and filled out, but he was a pretty mature 2-year-old, physically,” Pletcher said. “He was a good-sized colt to begin with, so we’re pleased with the way he’s developed physically. It was nice to see him back working. He’s always been a good work horse. He’s fun to watch.”

Ted Noffey is expected to be crowned Juvenile Male champion of 2025 at the Eclipse Awards banquet at The Breakers in Palm Beach next Thursday.

Centennial Farms’ Nearly breezed a half-mile in 50.26 seconds Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs in preparation for a likely start in the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) Jan. 31 at Gulfstream.

The son of Not This Time improved on an off-the-board finish in his debut at Aqueduct with impressive back-to-back wins at Gulfstream, where he graduated Nov. 22 by 9 ¼ lengths at six furlongs before rolling to a five-length victory in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance Jan. 2.

“We were kind of perplexed by his debut. He had trained very well prior to that. He’s seemed a little green, but he’s made good progress in his next two starts,” Pletcher said. “He’s been very impressive. He worked great this morning, so we’re very happy with him.”

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull and the 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth are key stops on the Road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29 at Gulfstream.

Skippylongstocking Works for G1 Pegasus World Cup

Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking prepared for a start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park Friday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center, breezing four furlongs in 48.20 seconds while recording the sixth fastest clocking of 45 recorded for the distance at Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“He had a very good breeze. Everything is good. He’s coming into the race in great order,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He should put in a big race. Hopefully, everything continues to go well for the rest of the week.”

Skippylongstocking, a multiple graded-stakes winner who finished third behind Joseph stablemate White Abarrio in last year’s Pegasus, is coming off a victory in the Dec. 20 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream.

Joseph will send White Abarrio to the track Sunday morning at Gulfstream for his final tuneup for his Pegasus World Cup title defense.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $275,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $275,000 this Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Friday for the fifth racing day following a $416,348.44 jackpot payout Jan. 8.

The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11, co-headlined by the $75,000 Sunshine Turf in Race 9 and $75,000 Sunshine Sprint in Race 10.

A highly competitive field of 12 older horses has been assembled for the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Turf, including 7-2 morning-line favorite Seminole Chief, who captured the Appleton at Gulfstream last season and who is slated to make his second start off a six-month layoff.. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Neoequos, who finished third in last year’s Curlin Florida Derby (G1), is scheduled to make his first start on turf in his 2026 debut.

Damon’s Mound, a veteran sprinter trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, has been rated at even-money in the six-furlong Sunshine Sprint, in which the son of Girvin will make his first start since closing out his 2025 campaign with a victory in the Nov. 5 Bold Ruler (G3) at Aqueduct. Diane Morici-trained Ms. Bucchero, who is coming off a victory in the Sugar Swirl, will take on the boys in the Sunshine Sprint.

In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Who’s Hot: Trainer Carlos David saddled a pair of winners to continue his sizzling start to the 2026 racing season. Victories by Bless America ($5) in Race 3 and Worth Considering ($6.80) in Race 7 gave him 10 wins from 20 starters.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano had booked winners, scoring aboard Palace View ($27) in Race 1 and North End Lady ($14.40) in Race 10.