By Steve Sherack
'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) made it two straight top-level victories sprinting at the Spa with a game performance in Saturday's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S.
The rail-drawn, 5-2 favorite secured a fantastic pocket trip on the inside in third beneath Luis Saez behind the two-for-two 'Rising Star' Midland Money (Shancelot) and 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) through an opening quarter in :22.38.
Back a spot into fourth through a half mile in :44.52, Patch Adams shot through an opening along the fence as they straightened for home and outslugged 20-1 longshot Captain Cook to win by a nose in an absolute thriller. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Barnes (Into Mischief) in third.
Patch Adams stopped the clock for seven furlongs in a sharp 1:21.61.
A disappointing fourth in both the GIII Southwest S. Jan. 25 and GIII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8 earlier this season on the GI Kentucky Derby trail, Patch Adams is perfect in three starts since turning back to one-turn races. He was an impressive winner of the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga last out June 7.
“Good set-up,” winning trainer Brad Cox said. “Obviously, a ground-saving trip. He was ready to roll. He certainly acted like he was. Back home in Kentucky, we worked him out of the gate two weeks ago and put in a good move. We had him sharp enough. He broke well and Luis (Saez) saved ground and we needed it. He needed all of the seven-eighths to get there.”
Cox continued, “We thought he was a big-time horse, he is a big-time horse, a dual Grade I winner now. We thought he was a horse that could pick off a Derby prep, it wasn't to be with the Southwest and the Tampa Bay Derby. We cut him back and he's responded really well.
It would be nice to get him to the Breeders' Cup. I don't know whether that'd be a two-turn Dirt Mile, or three quarters of a mile in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. We'll let the dust settle, get him back home and go from there.”
Pedigree Notes:
The all-conquering Into Mischief also sired this race's 2017 winner Practical Joke.
The wildly successful Into Mischief x Distorted Humor cross is also responsible for fellow GISWs Life Is Good, the aforementioned Practical Joke, Citizen Bull and Tappan Street.
Stakes-winning WinStar homebred Well Humored, a half-sister to GISW American Patriot (War Front) and this term's GIII Belmont Gold Cup S./Birdstone S. winner and 'Rising Star' Parchment Party (Constitution), is also responsible for the unraced 2-year-old colt Wall Street (Into Mischief).
This is also the extended female family of blowout G1 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed (Tiznow).
Back-to-back Grade 1 wins for PATCH ADAMS as he takes the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes with Luis Saez up for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/He4Gu9gHOG
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 23, 2025
Saturday, Saratoga
ALLEN JERKENS MEMORIAL S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-23, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.61, ft.
1–PATCH ADAMS, 124, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Well Humored (SW), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Life Well Lived, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
O-CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez. $275,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, $772,585. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Captain Cook, 124, c, 3, Practical Joke–Pow Wow Wow, by
Indian Charlie. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($410,000 2yo '24
KEENOV). O-St. Elias Stable; B-Marylou Whitney Stables, LLC
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $100,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
3–Barnes, 124, c, 3, Into Mischief–All American Dream, by
American Pharoah. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($3,200,000 Ylg '23
FTSAUG). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Jeff Drown and
Don Rachel, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
Margins: NO, 1HF, 2. Odds: 2.50, 20.80, 4.30.
Also Ran: Chancer McPatrick, Madaket Road, Midland Money, Smoken Wicked, Verifire.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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