BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred filly Nooni, a contender for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to be run at Keeneland Race Course on October 31, worked five furlongs from the gate on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Bob Baffert.

The 4-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win was timed in 1:00.20, the fifth fastest of 52 moves at the distance under the Twin Spires on Saturday morning.

Since returning from an extended 18-month lay-off, the graded stakes winner has won two of three starts this year including her last two. In her first race this year, she was an even third in the six-and-a-half-furlong Great Lady M (G2) won by Sweet Azteca at Los Alamitos on July 4.

In once race since, Sweet Azteca won the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar on August 16 and is among the possible runners for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Nooni has not lost in two races since, both in Kentucky.

She won by a length-and-a-half at Ellis Park on August 2, taking a second condition, $40,000 optional claiming versus fillies and mares going six-and-a-half furlongs then dominated at third condition, $100,000 optional claiming at Churchill Downs on September 13. She cruised home in the Churchill race, winning by nearly five lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:22.48 to produce an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.  

Nooni is out of Unanimity, by Union Rags and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O’Farrell III and David O’Farrell et. al.

She first earned headlines as the top seller at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where bloodstock agent Donato Lanni went to $1.8 million to secure her for Zedan out of the Ocala Stud consignment.

Return to the October 17 issue of Wire to Wire