TED NOFFEY Retires to Spendthrift Farm at $60,000 as FURTHER ADO Returns for 2027 Racing Campaign

The undefeated 2025 juvenile champion begins a new chapter at stud, while Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Further Ado will remain in training for another season.

LEXINGTON, KY (November 10, 2026) — Spendthrift Farm announced Tuesday that Ted Noffey, the 2025 Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male, has been retired from racing and will begin his stallion career in 2027 at a stud fee of $60,000, stands and nurses.

In a second major announcement, the Kentucky breeding operation confirmed that Further Ado, winner of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), will remain in training for his 4-year-old campaign, reversing earlier plans to retire him to stud following the World Championships.

The decisions mark two different paths for Spendthrift’s talented Grade 1 winners, with Ted Noffey entering the breeding shed and Further Ado pursuing additional success on the racetrack.

Ted Noffey: A Championship Legacy in Just Five Starts

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Ted Noffey established himself as the nation’s leading juvenile during an extraordinary undefeated 2025 campaign.

A son of Spendthrift’s legendary stallion Into Mischief, the talented colt began his career with a maiden victory at Saratoga Race Course before dominating the Hopeful Stakes (G1) by an impressive 8 1/2 lengths.

He then demonstrated his versatility and ability to handle longer distances with a commanding 2 3/4-length victory in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

His championship season culminated at Del Mar, where he captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), completing a perfect four-for-four record and securing Eclipse Award honors as the country’s outstanding 2-year-old male.

However, his highly anticipated 3-year-old season never unfolded as expected.

Bone bruising forced Ted Noffey to miss the 2026 Triple Crown series and kept him away from competition for most of the year.

He finally returned to racing on November 7 in the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park, but finished fifth in what ultimately became his final career appearance.

Ted Noffey retires with four victories from five starts, three Grade 1 triumphs, and career earnings of $1,665,963.

Despite the abbreviated racing career, his exceptional juvenile accomplishments and prestigious pedigree position him as an attractive new prospect for breeders.

Ned Toffey, general manager and chief operating officer of Spendthrift Farm, expressed the operation’s pride in the champion’s accomplishments, emphasizing the significance of winning three Grade 1 races at three different racetracks.

With his combination of speed, precocity, championship performance, and the influence of Into Mischief, Ted Noffey represents another important addition to Spendthrift’s established stallion roster.

Further Ado Will Return Following Breeders’ Cup Triumph

While Ted Noffey transitions to the breeding industry, Spendthrift Farm has elected to extend the racing career of another outstanding colt.

Further Ado, a son of Gun Runner trained by Brad Cox, will remain in competition in 2027 after delivering one of the most exciting performances of the recent Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

On October 31, Further Ado captured the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) following a thrilling stretch battle with Owen Almighty.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, the colt prevailed by a nose in a dramatic photo finish, recording a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

The victory added another major accomplishment to an already impressive 2026 campaign.

Earlier in the season, Further Ado dominated the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland by 11 lengths, establishing himself among the leading 3-year-olds in the country.

His outstanding record at Keeneland now includes three victories from three starts, highlighted by two Grade 1 wins.

Before his Breeders’ Cup success, Spendthrift had announced plans for Further Ado to join its stallion roster in 2027. However, his continued physical development and exceptional performance at the World Championships prompted the operation to reconsider.

According to Toffey, Further Ado has continued to develop throughout the season, providing considerable optimism about his potential to achieve even more as a 4-year-old.

The decision creates the possibility of another championship-level campaign in 2027, potentially including a return to the Breeders’ Cup and a future opportunity to compete in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Two Champions, Two Different Paths for Spendthrift

The announcements underscore Spendthrift Farm’s approach to balancing racing achievements with long-term breeding opportunities.

Ted Noffey enters the stallion market carrying the credentials of an Eclipse Award winner, an undefeated juvenile campaign, and a pedigree anchored by Into Mischief, one of North America’s most influential sires.

Further Ado, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to strengthen his racing résumé before eventually beginning his own stallion career.

As the Thoroughbred industry prepares for the 2027 breeding and racing seasons, both horses remain central to Spendthrift Farm’s ambitions.

For Ted Noffey, the next chapter begins in the breeding shed. For Further Ado, the pursuit of additional Grade 1 glory continues on the racetrack.

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