Cox Duo Headlines Competitive Jerkens Field

Trainer Brad Cox believes in the "strength in numbers" theory.

"You can never have too many shots in a grade 1," he said.

Apparently, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert buys into the same philosophy, as the Aug. 23 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds features three starters from his barn and two from Cox's in the field of eight for the seven-furlong sprint at Saratoga Race Course.

While Baffert may outnumber Cox in the starting gate, Cox has the higher cards in his hands as he will send out the uncoupled duo of 3-1 favorite Patch Adams  and 4-1 second choice Verifire  in the $500,000 test.

"These are hard races to win and this might be the most competitive race of the weekend," Cox said.

CHC Inc. and breeder WinStar Farm's Patch Adams earned his role as the favorite off a decisive 2 1/4-length victory in the seven-furlong June 7 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at the Spa over a muddy track.

That breakthrough race came after a victory in a Kentucky Derby Day allowance optional claimer win at Churchill Downs when Cox cut the one-time Triple Crown candidate back to one turn.

"The draw (post 1) was not ideal, but I expect him to run very well. I'm hopeful he gets a good trip," Cox said about the son of Into Mischief   out of the Distorted Humor mare Well Humored. "The turnback to one turn showed us what he really wants to do. He put it all together in the Woody Stephens and became a grade 1 winner."

In an era when many breeders believe milers make the best stallions, 7-furlong races like the Woody Stephens and H. Allen Jerkens at the grade 1 level carry far more value than the half-million dollar purse when stud deals are consummated.

"The Woody Stephens and the Jerkens are definitely stallion-making stakes," Cox said.

Resolute Racing and Cha Cha Chestnuts' Verifire will put a perfect 3-for-3 career record on the line when he makes his graded stakes debut in the Jerkens.

A $1 million purchase at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, he did not reach the racetrack until March 15, but reeled off maiden and allowance optional claiming wins by a combined 12 3/4 lengths.

Last time out, he posted a 2 3/4-length victory in the $239,665 Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs while covering the seven furlongs in a blistering 1:20.77, just .33 off the 13-year-old track record.

"We'll see if he can swim in the deep end of the pool," Cox said. "It took a while to get him to the races, but he's been nothing but good in the afternoon. Three really good runs. He's visually impressive, and if he shows up and does what he did the first three times, he's going to be in the mix."

A son of Authentic  , he was bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds out of the Smart Strike mare Ruby Trust.

"He's really doing well now," Cox said. "It looks like he's developing. He handled the ship to Saratoga well. He has a great mind and does everything you ask of him."

Baffert's trio will also be formidable.

Zedan Racing Stables' Barnes  (9-2) was bought for $3.2 million at the 2023 The Saratoga Sale, Fasig Tipton's select yearling sale, and the Into Mischief colt was named after Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.

A Jan. 4 win in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) painted him as a top Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate, but a near-20-length loss in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) led to a 4 1/2-month break and a return to sprinting, in which he is 2-for-2.

"He took a step back and sort of lost form, so we freshened him up. He's been working really well and I'm happy with him. He's training well, and he looks great," Baffert said.

Madaket Road  (6-1), owned by the partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, has been knocking on the door of a graded stakes win. He was second in the Woody Stephens by 2 1/4 lengths and second before that in the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2). All told, he has been second in three grade 1 or 2 stakes.

"He always shows up," Baffert said about the Quality Road   colt.

Edward Childs' Midland Money  (8-1) entered the Jerkens picture off an Aug. 3 allowance win at Saratoga in his second career start and first since June 14, 2024.

"Midland Money came out of his race really well," Baffert said. "He was pretty ready to run and is doing well, so we'll see how it goes."

Flanagan Racing's Chancer McPatrick  (5-1) won the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes at the Spa, which normally leads to a start in the Travers Stakes (G1). But trainer Chad Brown was more enthused about turning back to one turn off the win with a McKinzie   colt who was seventh in the Woody Stephens but won the prestigious Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2.

"We're committed to going short with him," Brown said. "I don't think the horse can go a mile and a quarter effectively. He's got a better chance to win going seven."

Valene Farms' Louisiana-bred Smoken Wicked  (6-1) was second to Verifire in the Maxfield, but the colt bred by Tom Curtis and Wayne Simpson is exiting a 5 3/4-length win in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at the Spa.

"(The Amsterdam) was just what we were looking for," trainer Dallas Stewart said about the son of Bobby's Wicked One  . "He got into a good position, fought hard on the turn, and finished it off. It was a very nice effort."

St. Elias Stable's Captain Cook  (12-1) was third in the Maxfield. But since then, the son of Practical Joke   has moved to the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.