Captain Cook, Barnes Tussle in Seven-Furlong Perryville

CHC and WinStar Farm's dual grade 1 winner Patch Adams  , the top 3-year-old male sprinter in the country, was recently retired to stud at WinStar due to a racing injury that will keep him out of the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.

But two sophomore sprinters close behind Patch Adams in Aug. 23 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1)—runner-up Captain Cook  and third-place Barnes —are still in action and compete Oct. 18 against four other 3-year-olds in the Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. The Perryville, which shares the Saturday card at Keeneland with the $400,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, is a $350,000 contest at 7 furlongs on the main track.

Both St. Elias Stable's Captain Cook and Zedan Racing Stables' Barnes were on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail this spring before they exhibited limitations in graded routes. Barnes was the early Derby favorite among individual betting interests this winter, in fact.

Captain Cook, transferred this summer into the barn of Todd Pletcher, showed marked improvement in his last outing—his first start for the Hall of Fame trainer—missing by a nose in the 7-furlong Jerkens at 20-1 odds. Pressing the early pace, he took over entering the stretch, and just failed to repel the late bid of Patch Adams.

Video: H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. (G1)

Winner of the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes earlier in the year against easier opposition for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., the Practical Joke   colt is 2-1-2 in seven starts with earnings of $386,056.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides.

Barnes, competitive in the Jerkens after fighting his way through heavy traffic, ran like he needed more ground than the 6 furlongs of the Sept. 20 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing. A surprising 10th after a half, he offered a belated bid to grab fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, losing at 2-5 odds.

The Into Mischief   colt won the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) earlier this year for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who also runs the rail-drawn Gaming  in the Perryville. The latter was one of the best 2-year-olds of last year, winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and running second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

He has not produced to the same extent since, with just a single win in seven starts following the Del Mar Futurity—taking the ungraded Affirmed Stakes in June at Santa Anita Park. A distant third in the two-turn Shared Belief Stakes when racing a mile, the Game Winner   colt should appreciate the return to a sprint. His Del Mar Futurity victory came at 7 furlongs for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.

The up-and-coming Taylor's Version , Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty , and dual minor stakes winner Rolando  complete the six-horse field.