Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Ted Noffey

In the 151-year history of the Kentucky Derby (G1), only five stallions have sired three winners of the Run for the Roses. The latest to match the record is Into Mischief, courtesy of his sons Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025).

Into Mischief has ranked as North America’s leading sire by progeny earnings every year since 2019. Now he’s poised to become the first stallion to sire four Kentucky Derby winners.

One of Into Mischief’s top contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is Ted Noffey. The undefeated gray colt is already a two-time Grade 1 winner, having dominated the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga and the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Like many of Into Mischief’s best runners, Ted Noffey has demonstrated the speed necessary to excel in sprints and short routes. Before Into Mischief entered the Kentucky Derby history books, he was best known for siring speedsters like Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winners Goldencents and Life Is Good and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) conquerors Gamine and Covfefe. Even today, Into Mischief sires an impressive number of elite sprinters and milers, and his progeny win at a speed-oriented average winning distance of 6.8 furlongs.

But it’s become increasingly clear that Into Mischief can produce exceptional runners over classic distances as well. Authentic not only won the Kentucky Derby, but he also added the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on his way to Horse of the Year Honors. Sovereignty followed up his Derby win with triumphs in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont (G1) and 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1). Furthermore, Into Mischief is the sire of 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita H. (G1) hero Newgate and also Laurel River, a blowout winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1) racing 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).

It helps when Into Mischief is bred to mares with strong, stamina-packed pedigrees. Mandaloun and Laurel River were both foaled from mares by Empire Maker, winner of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont and a source of classic stamina. Sovereignty’s dam is by Bernardini, winner of the 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1), 1 1/4-mile Travers, and 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). And Newgate’s dam is a daughter of Majestic Warrior, a stoutly bred son of 1 1/2-mile Belmont winner and legendary stamina influence A.P. Indy.

This trend is worth noting since the bottom half of Ted Noffey’s pedigree leans more toward speed than stamina.

Ted Noffey’s dam is Streak of Luck, a capable California-bred mare best known for winning the Lady Canterbury S. and placing in the Buena Vista (G2) and Autumn Miss (G3), all racing one mile on turf. Prior to Ted Noffey, she foaled Fully Authorized, a son of Authentic who has won at the maiden and allowance levels racing one mile on turf.

Streak of Luck is a daughter of Old Fashioned out of the Valeria mare Elusive Quality. Old Fashioned won the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) and one-mile Southwest (G3), but retired with an injury before he could try classic distances. At stud, he’s proven to be a source of speed, with his progeny winning at an average distance of 6.5 furlongs. Some of the best include seven-furlong Woody Stephens (G2) winner Still Having Fun and six-furlong Old Hat (G3) heroine Sweet Whiskey, who ran second in the one-mile Acorn (G1).

As for Valeria, she won twice at the claiming level over distances of 5 1/2 furlongs and six furlongs. Streak of Luck has been her most successful foal; Valeria’s other runners have been claimers, with two excelling as sprinters and one finding success as a miler.

This brings us to Elusive Quality, a talented sprinter/miler best known for winning the Poker H. (G3) in the world-record time of 1:31.63 for one mile on turf. At stud, Elusive Quality proved capable of siring major winners over classic distances, with examples including Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero Smarty Jones and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass. But many other sons and daughters of Elusive Quality starred as sprinters and milers, and his progeny compiled an average winning distance of 6.9 furlongs.

A similar mix can be seen in Elusive Quality’s record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have foaled top-notch horses as varied as 1 1/2-mile Belmont winner Essential Quality and two-time six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) hero Roy H. Notably, Essential Quality was sired by Tapit, a source of stamina who helped counterbalance the speed of Elusive Quality.

It’s possible that Into Mischief’s growing reputation as an all-time great sire of Kentucky Derby winners will trump all else and carry Ted Noffey to victory over 1 1/4 miles. But the dam side of Ted Noffey’s pedigree lacks the stamina found in the pedigrees of many of Into Mischief’s elite 1 1/4-mile runners, suggesting one mile to 1 1/8 miles may prove more suitable for Ted Noffey.