Patch Adams Shines Again to Take the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga

The son of Into Mischief found a seam along the rail and, under a masterful ride from Luis Saez, edged Captain Cook in a thrilling finish to post his second consecutive G1 victory

Patch Adams and Luis Saez Keep Adding to Their Big-Race Haul / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- China Horse Club Inc. and WinStar Farm had double reason to celebrate Saturday at Saratoga, as Patch Adams(Into Mischief), already a history-maker over the same strip, delivered another pulsating performance to prevail by a nose in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., one of the afternoon’s marquee events on a Travers Day program brimming with star power.

Run at seven furlongs for sophomore sprinters, the 41st renewal of the race honoring Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens produced a finish worthy of its namesake. With Luis Saez at his absolute best, Patch Adams hugged the rail turning for home, slipped through a narrow seam, and bravely held off the furious late charge of Captain Cook (Practical Joke) to score by the narrowest of margins in 1:21.61.

Trained by Brad Cox, Patch Adams entered riding a two-race winning streak, including a decisive victory in the G1 Woody Stephens S. over the same track and trip June 7. Sent off the 5-2 favorite, he returned $7 for a $2 win ticket.

“The setup worked out just the way we’d hoped,” Cox said. “We knew he needed a clean trip, and Luis gave him a brilliant ride—kept him inside, kept him comfortable, and when the opening came, he was ready to go. He was razor-sharp today, and he showed it. To win this race for the first time is really special.”

The tempo was electric from the outset, as Midland Money (Shancelot) flashed speed through fractions of :22.38 and :44.52, tracked closely by Captain Cook, making his first start for Todd Pletcher, with Patch Adams saving ground in third. Saez bided his time until midstretch, found his rail passage, and asked the question—Patch Adams answered with every ounce of grit.

“He broke sharp and put me in a perfect spot,” said Saez, who previously won the Jerkens in 2018 aboard Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford). “I was very lucky to get that hole inside, and once we got through, he fought all the way to the wire. He’s a warrior.”

Captain Cook lost nothing in defeat, cementing his status as a high-class colt. Another Into Mischief, Barnes, a G2 winner, checked in third 1 1/2 lengths back, while Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), himself a proven top-level performer, settled for fourth, beaten two lengths.

With the victory, Patch Adams has reinvented himself as a top-flight sprinter. Once on the Derby trail, where he failed to fire in the G3 Southwest S. and G3 Tampa Bay Derby, Cox cut him back in trip and has been rewarded in spades. The colt is now unbeaten in three starts at seven furlongs, all at graded level.

“We always believed he was a Grade I horse,” Cox added. “Now he’s proven it twice over. Every time we’ve kept him at his best distance, he’s responded. He’s a special colt.”