Due to an injury sustained in training, WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's multiple grade 1 winner Patch Adams will not be competing in the Breeders' Cup World Championships as planned and has been retired to WinStar Farm for the 2026 breeding season. A stud fee will be announced later.
"Patch Adams had a straightforward lateral condylar fracture in his right hind that went back together extremely well, and he can race or breed without any notice of the fracture in 2026," said Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. "He has an excellent prognosis."
The well-bred son of six-time leading sire Into Mischief developed into one of the nation's top sprinters during his sophomore season under the tutelage of trainer Brad Cox. The colt reeled off back-t-back grade 1 wins at Saratoga Race Course, taking the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) and the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1).
"The speed and heart he showed in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial not only established himself as the leading 3-year-old sprinter in the country, but drew a lot of attention from the breeding public and solidified our decision to stand him in 2026," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "While he could still run at 4, we have made the difficult decision to stick with our original plan to retire him."
In the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial in August, Patch Adams raced within easy striking distance of the lead in the early going. Inside the final furlong of the 7-furlong fixture, he launched a fierce challenge to Captain Cook. In a determined finish, Patch Adams pulled ahead in the final strides to secure the victory over Captain Cook and Barnes. His winning time of 1:21.61 was faster than both the Forego Stakes (G1) and Ballerina Stakes (G1) at the same distance on the same card.
In the 7-furlong Woody Stephens in June, Patch Adams settled into a prominent spot early, took command with about a furlong remaining, and drew clear from Madaket Road to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Also finishing in his wake were multiple grade 1 winners Citizen Bull, Eclipse champion 2-year-old male of 2024, and Chancer McPatrick . His final time of 1:21.36 stands as the fastest 7-furlong time by a colt at Saratoga during the 2025 season, according to WinStar.
Patch Adams showed his speed early, winning a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs in his second start by 10 1/2 lengths. He stopped the clock for 7 furlongs in a rapid 1:20.77, just 0.33 seconds shy of the track record set by two-time champion Groupie Doll back in 2012.
"I've had good two-turn colts in my career like Essential Quality and Cyberknife, but Patch Adams is the fastest 3-year-old I have ever had," said Cox. "When he won by 10 lengths going 7 furlongs in 1:20.77, I knew he would be a grade 1 winner."
All told, Patch Adams won four of seven lifetime starts—was undefeated (3-for-3) at 7 furlongs—and banked $772,585. Patch Adams hails from one of the top families cultivated at WinStar Farm over its 25-year history. He is out of stakes-winning Distorted Humor mare Well Humored, whose family is replete with graded stakes winners, including grade 1 winners Well Armed, Cyberknife , Played Hard, and American Patriot.
"Here at WinStar, we believe in speed," Walden said. "We believe Patch Adams has the genetics, race record, conformation, and pedigree to make a top stallion prospect. Patch Adams was a fast 2-year-old and a very fast 3-year-old."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
