Kentucky Derby 2025: Cox still high on Patch Adams

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Patch Adams emerged from his fourth-place finish in last month’s Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in excellent condition, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday, with plans for the horse’s next start still being determined.

Patch Adams was making his two-turn debut in the Southwest and was the 4-5 favorite off a November maiden special weight win at Churchill Downs. He won the seven-furlong race on the front end in 1:20.77 and the Beyer Speed Figure of 98 he earned was the second-highest number put up by a 2-year-old in 2024.

In the Southwest, Patch Adams had just two horses beat early after losing his footing at the start. He then put in a sustained run to finish fourth behind wire-to-wire winner Speed King. Patch Adams was beaten 2 1/2 lengths and was edged by a head for third while earning a Beyer of 89.

“He didn’t get away well,” Cox said. “Just based off what I saw on paper leading up to the race, it was not run anything like I expected. And you know, that’s racing. That’s why we do it. It’s one that I’m going to try to learn from and move forward. I’ve lost zero confidence in my horse.”

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Patch Adams has returned to Florida. He prepped for the Southwest at Payson Park.

“I’m happy with the way he exited the Southwest, with how he’s trained since,” Cox said. “I don’t know where he’ll run next.”

Cox said with regard to Kentucky Derby prep options, everything is on the table for Patch Adams. The son of Into Mischief races for breeder WinStar Farm and partner CHC Inc. Patch Adams is from the female family of Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed.

On the Southwest undercard, Rapture won a maiden special weight for WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. by more than six lengths. The start was his first around two turns and for his effort in the 1 1/16-mile race, in which he broke from post 10, the son of Uncle Mo earned a Beyer of 82.

“He’s nice,” Cox said. “We shipped him back to Florida. The Virginia Derby, the Fountain of Youth, the Tampa Bay Derby, all those are in play.

“We think that he’s a horse, the farther the better. He showed that there at Oaklawn when he broke his maiden. We’re excited about him moving forward.”

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