(Ted Noffey wins the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

Quotes from the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland

Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

John Velazquez (winning rider of Ted Noffey)

“The good thing about him is that he’s actually pretty kind. I know he breaks pretty well out of there, let him run to the first turn, put the bit in his mouth — just kind. He answers right back to you. That’s the great thing about him. He’s not a horse that’s going to be running off. When he gets close to the horse on the lead he wants to get a little aggressive, so I took a little hold of him so he wouldn’t go too early, but after that he was pretty easy and agreeable, kept the head in front of him. Once he opened up in the lane, he started easing up, waiting for the other horses, so I was kind of keeping him busy. Got to give it to the team (of trainer Todd Pletcher) to get him ready. They did a great job.”

Todd Pletcher (winning trainer)

“Everything in his training indicated to us that he wouldn’t have any issue with (two turns). It’s always great to see them actually do it. It worked out beautifully today. He had a good trip to the first turn, got into a good rhythm and was just kind of waiting on (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) to give him the cue. It was what we were hoping for and what we expected but, like I said, you always want to see it.”

Ned Toffey (General Manager of winning owner Spendthrift Farm)

On Spendthrift’s four wins today at Keeneland, including one with Repole Stable, and five across the country

“I’m sure going to enjoy it, because there’s plenty of them that go the other way. It’s a tough game, and when you have a day like this you’d better enjoy it because tomorrow might be a lot worse. It’s a lot of fun. We’ve been really fortunate. We have great ownership behind us that support everything, a wonderful team, and we’re just in a great situation and in a position to have this kind of success. Hopefully it will continue, but it’s a great day and we’re sure going to enjoy this.”

On the two-turn performance

“Our impression from talking to (trainer) Todd (Pletcher) and from what we’ve seen is that he would handle the stretch-out. He’s a nice sized, scopey, leggy horse, built to like two turns. The way he ran (winning the Spendthrift Farm) Hopeful (G1 at Saratoga Sept. 1) would make you think he’d like two turns, but they still have to do it. We were cautiously optimistic, but you just never know until they do it, and he sure did it today.”

Cristian Torres (rider of runner-up Blackout Time)

“We had a perfect trip. (Trainer) Kenny (McPeek) and I talked (and planned) to just let him break and don’t take anything away from him. He got into the first turn and the horse took the lead and I just stayed behind him. He was following beautifully then I took him out. The horse that beat us is a great horse but I really like how my horse is coming from breaking his maiden to a Grade 1. He delivers. He gave me everything he had.”

Kenny McPeek (trainer of Blackout Time)

“He had a great effort; the horse hadn’t run in two months. We’ve been sitting and waiting for this race. He proves he belongs at the highest level, and we’re going to be conservative with him. I don’t know that I’m going to take him to California (for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships) right now. We’ll contemplate it but he doesn’t have to go. We could sit and wait for the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2 Nov. 29) and feel really good about it.”

“I’m really more interested in what he does next year, as much as this year. I think he’s a horse that’s made for the Triple Crown and we’ll contemplate next steps.”

“We want to have him ready for Churchill in the spring. If I had to decide today I’d probably go to the Kentucky Jockey Club.”

“(He’s a) big, developing horse, beautiful mover, great mind. You’re going to hear about him in the spring, too.”

Flavien Prat (rider of third-place finisher Litmus Test)

“I had a good trip. I thought he was traveling well on the front end and made a good effort.”

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Since its first race meet 89 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five on-site sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2026 for the fourth time, following 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information email Keeneland Communications Associate Amy Owens at aowens@keeneland.com