By Alan Carasso
WinStar Farm, CHC Inc and Siena Farm's Patch Adams (c, 2, Into Mischief–Well Humored, by Distorted Humor) tore away from his rivals in the final furlong to become the day's second 'TDN Rising Star' for his sire, trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux with a jaw-dropping performance. He becomes the 47th 'Rising Star' for the Spendthrift super-stallion.
Looking to atone for a debut third–albeit a highly rated one–when odds-on at Keeneland Oct. 11, the homebred colt was 58 cents on the dollar this time around and made absolutely no mistakes. Right into the bridle, Patch Adams was in the vanguard early and ultimately tracked from third, three off the inside as 5-1 chance Zat's the One (McKinzie) got his opening couple of furlongs in :22.51 while doing it from between rivals. Cruising up to draw on even terms while in hand and ready to explode at the five-sixteenths, Patch Adams swapped his leads right on cue when heads were turned for home and was off and gone through the final furlong and a half, covering his final three-eighths of a mile in a very slick :35.61 (final furlong in :12.17 geared down) according to DRF Formulator. The final time of 1:20.77 over a fast main track was just 0.33 off the track record held by Groupie Doll. Cant Stop Munnings (Munnings) was along for second ahead of longshot Shogun (Blame) in third.
Patch Adams's stakes-winning third dam was purchased by WinStar for $150,000 in foal to Awesome Again at the 2001 Keeneland November Sale and among her eight winners was G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed (Tiznow), GISP Helsinki (Distorted Humor) and GSW Witty (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW Bombard (War Front) and MGSP Amuse (Medaglia d'Oro).
Well Armed's full-sister Life Well Lived was less accomplished at the races, but foaled five winners from seven starters, most notably American Patriot (War Front), winner of the GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes and now a stallion at Darley in Japan. Also responsible for MGSP Muqtaser (Distorted Humor) and 'TDN Rising Star' Parchment Party (Constitution), Life Well Lived was purchased by Machmer Hall for $360,000 back in foal to Constitution at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale, produced a colt this term and is due to the same stallion for 2025. Well Humored is also the dam of a yearling full-brother to Patch Adams.
The cross of Into Mischief over Distorted Humor has been very successful, accounting for now 49 winners from 62 starters and 11 stakes winners, including WinStar sire and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good, Practical Joke and recent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull. Goldencents is out of a mare by Forty Niner's son Banker's Gold.
5th-Churchill Downs, $123,249, Msw, 11-30, 2yo, 7f, 1:20.77, ft, 10 1/2 lengths.
PATCH ADAMS, c, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Well Humored (SW), by Distorted Humor)
2nd Dam: Life Well Lived, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $78,125. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-CHC Inc, Siena Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad H Cox.
Patch Adams and @flothejock gear down at the wire and win decisively to break his maiden for @bradcoxracing! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/J3ojzSLixl
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 30, 2024
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