There's a popular belief that everything happens for a reason.
Even mistakes.
For Ned Toffey, the general manager of Spendthrift Farm, as much as he chuckled when he saw a social media post with the first letters of his name transposed, he's now beaming with pride as his name, for the most part, is tied to an exciting 2-year-old grade 1 winner.
Spendthrift's Ted Noffey, the name in the aforementioned post that came close to the spelling of Toffey's name, surged to the head of the East's male juvenile division as he powered to a convincing 8 1/2-length victory over 6-5 favorite Buetane in the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) Sept. 1 at Saratoga Race Course.
The victory in the closing day feature at the Spa was the son of Into Mischief 's second in as many starts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who completed with winning jockey John Velazquez a stretch of grade 1 wins in three straight days after they won the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) with Fierceness and Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) with Antiquarian.
"I was just hoping he'd be faster than me," Ned Toffey said about Ted Noffey. "It's really nice, but what I like best is that a win like this is the result of all the hard work we put in and the money that we recommend our owner spend. Everything revolves around our stud barn, so for him to be an impressive grade 1 winner at 2, that pretty much puts him in our stud barn at some point."
The way Ted Noffey drew clear in the stretch of the seven-furlong Hopeful was impressive to the eye and a solid indicator of his ability to handle two turns in longer and more important races like the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
"The name part is great, but we want him to go on and do more," Toffey said. "Hopefully the story is not done."
Eric Gustavson, owner of Spendthrift Farm, said the name was a "great way" to honor Toffey.
"He's an amazing guy. He does an unbelievable job for us, and not only that, he's a great person and I'm proud to have him as a friend."
The Hopeful also capped a sensational weekend for Spendthrift, which won the Aug. 30 Spinaway Stakes (G1) with the homebred Tommy Jo, a 2-year-old filly named for Gustavson's first grandchild. Spendthrift sponsored the Hopeful.
"To get a sweep of these two races, especially for me who grew up an hour from here (in Great Barrington, Mass.), it's pretty special," Toffey said.
Ted Noffey broke alertly under Velazquez and was closer to the pace than in his Aug. 2 debut when he was fourth early on. As Soldier N Diplomat set the pace of :23.16 and :46.30, Velazquez had the Into Mischief colt a joint second on the outside, about a length away.
Approaching the quarter pole, Ted Noffey surged to the front and was unchallenged from there. He led by three lengths at the eighth pole and covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.35 on a fast track.
"He (traveled) a lot better than I thought he would. He's still a baby. His turn of foot is incredible," Velazquez said. "I'm as excited as ever. It never gets old. Riding good horses like this is what keeps you coming back. You get excited and when they win, it's even better."
The 7-2 third choice paid $9.62 as the New York Racing Association's new breakage format went into effect Monday.
"He finished up strong and galloped out great. It was everything you'd hope to see," said Pletcher, whose fifth Hopeful win gave him 32 wins at the meet and earned him a share of his 15th Saratoga training title along with Chad Brown. "You never know when you jump into a race like this with a lot of horses coming off wins, but it was as good and maybe even more than we expected."
Pletcher said the Oct. 4 two-turn Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland is a likely next start for the colt bred by Aaron and Marie Jones out of the Old Fashioned mare Streak of Luck who was bought for $650,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Zedan Racing Stables' West Coast shipper Buetane, a son of Tiz the Law trained by Bob Baffert, moved up from fourth to take second by a head over trainer Mark Casse's Curtain Call, also a Tiz the Law colt, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, with popular social media influencer Griffin Johnson also owning a share.
"I had a good trip," said Flavien Prat, who rode Buetane. "He ran his race and just got beat by better today. He made a run, just not as good as the winner."
Ted Noffey is the fifth grade 1 winner this year for six-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief, who stood the 2025 season at Spendthrift near Lexington for $250,000. He joins dual classic winner Sovereignty, the aforementioned Tommy Jo, Patch Adams, and Tappan Street.
