Ted Noffey Tops Road to Kentucky Derby Leaderboard After Feb. 3 Update

The Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard produced conflicting pictures this week as prep-season results and a possible injury to juvenile star Ted Noffey created uncertainty at the top of the standings. An internal snapshot dated Feb. 3 lists Ted Noffey with 40 points and notes he "retained at the top of the standings (though an injury rep" in a truncated update, while contemporaneous service reports say Noffey has departed the series, elevating Nearly and Golden Tempo.

Horse Racing Nation summed up the shift compactly: "The departure of juvenile champion Ted Noffey from the road to Kentucky Derby 2026 plus a win by Nearly in the Grade 3 Holy Bull means there now is a tie for first place on the leaderboard." That report added: "Nearly, who is 3-for-4 after Saturday's win for trainer Todd Pletcher, is tied with Lecomte (G3) winner Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, for second with 20 points each."

USRacing's leaderboard, last updated Feb. 2, shows Nearly and Golden Tempo at 20 points apiece with Litmus Test at 19 and a cluster of established trainers represented: Todd A. Pletcher with Nearly, Cherie DeVaux with Golden Tempo, Bob Baffert with Litmus Test, and Steven Asmussen with Chip Honcho at 14 points. USRacing lists 18 entries in the provided excerpt, including My World and Further Ado with 10 points each and Very Connected with 6 points.

The immediate catalyst was the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream, where Nearly's victory vaulted him into contention. Holy Bull minor placers also punched their cards onto the leaderboard; Horse Racing Nation reported Bravaro, Project Ace, Cannoneer and Global Aviator picked up 10, 6, 4 and 2 points respectively. Those single-digit moves underscore how a single prep can recalibrate the early pecking order in the championship series.

Beyond the leaderboard noise, the prep calendar through March and April remains loaded with high-stakes chances to earn classic points. Key upcoming preps include the Risen Star (50-25-15-10-5), Gotham and Fountain of Youth (same 50-level allocations), and March’s Rebel and Jeff Ruby Steaks, which award major points at 50 and 100 levels respectively. The international roads also continue to matter, with Dubai and the UAE Derby offering significant allocations; however, published fragments show discrepancies in the UAE Derby points schedule and in a Dubai stakes purse figure that require confirmation from race authorities.

For owners and trainers the week illustrates a broader industry trend: globalization and an intense early-season trading of form mean points and availability can change quickly. If Noffey’s status is confirmed as a withdrawal, connections and syndicates will have to re-evaluate campaign plans and the market for Derby entries could shift. For fans, the contest for starting gate berths is tighter and more unpredictable, with established barns such as Pletcher, DeVaux, Baffert and Cox already represented on the scoresheet.

With major preps scheduled through late March, the coming weekends will clarify whether Nearly and Golden Tempo consolidate roles as early favorites or if other 50- and 100-point opportunities reshape the leaderboard again. The official Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and racing offices will provide the definitive status on Ted Noffey and the exact allocations for international preps as the Derby road narrows toward May 2.