Patch Adams lands Allen Jerkens Memorial in a photo

Wet or dry, Patch Adams has proven hard to beat at Saratoga this summer.

A decisive 2 1/4-length winner of the Woody Stephens (G1) over a muddy track on June 7, Patch Adams had to pull out all the stops to double up in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Saturday over a fast strip. The 5-2 favorite in a field of eight three-year-olds, Patch Adams did so, by a nose, over 20-1 outsider Captain Cook.

While Captain Cook's pace-pressing trip went without incident, Patch Adams' rail-skimming, ground-saving run perhaps made the difference. Rating behind pacesetter Midland Money and Captain Cook, Patch Adams came with his best run late up the inside to beat his longshot rival in a time of 1:21.61 for seven furlongs.

"He was ready to roll," trainer Brad Cox said. "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 needed all of the seven-eighths to get there."

Ridden by Luis Saez for owners CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Patch Adams returned $7.

Captain Cook, making his first start since moving from trainer Rick Dutrow to Todd Pletcher, finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Barnes, who was followed by Chancer McPatrick, Madaket Road, Midland Money, Smoken Wicked, and Verifire.

Briefly on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail over the winter, Patch Adams was shortened up in distance after finishing fourth as the favorite in the Southwest (G3) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3), both over 1 1/16 miles.

"We thought he was a big-time horse; he is a big-time horse, a dual Grade 1-winner now," Cox said. "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 (G1), or three quarters of a mile in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). We'll let the dust settle, get him back home, and go from there."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar, Patch Adams is by Into Mischief and out of the stakes-winning Well Humored, a Distorted Humor half-sister to Grade 1 winner American Patriot and recent Belmont Gold Cup (G3) scorer Parchment Party.