Cogito, a listed stakes winner in England, has
arrived at Belmont Park along with trainer Brian Meehan, who hopes the
3-year-old can give him his fifth Grade 1 win in North America and third
at Belmont when he competes in Saturday’s $400,000 Jamaica Handicap.
“He went to the track this morning, and we’re both
really happy,” said Meehan. “He’s fresh and well, just leg-stretching
and schooling in the gate and the paddock. We have a good post
position, and after two nice days the track should be in reasonable
condition. He couldn’t be better. His form is good, and we’ll try to
maintain our excellent strike rate in this country.”
Meehan, who is based at the Manton training center near
Marlborough, England, has competed in 23 races in the United States,
winning the 2003 Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap with Buy the Sport and the
2008 Grade 1 Man o’ War with Red Rocks at Belmont. He has captured the
Breeders’ Cup Turf twice, first in 2007 with Red Rocks and again in 2010
with Dangerous Midge.
Owned by J. Paul Reddam, who campaigned Red Rocks,
Cogito was under consideration for the Grade 1 Travers in August at
Saratoga Race Course but bypassed the race after a pulled muscle forced
him to miss training. In his most recent start, he was second, beaten 1
½ lengths, in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam on July 22 at
Maisons-Laffitte in France.
“He pulled a muscle [before the Travers] and it was
taking too long to bring him back,” said Meehan. “He was back, but he
wasn’t back 100 percent, so it was a shame, really. I would have loved
to have gone to the Travers, but this will do. I’ll take a Grade 1 if
we’re lucky enough to win it.”
Frankie Dettori, who is named to ride Cogito in the
Jamaica, Roveing Patrol in the Grade 1 Frizette, and maiden Telegraph
Hill on Saturday at Belmont, will arrive in New York Friday night,
Meehan said. On Sunday, Dettori is scheduled to compete in five Group 1
stakes, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp in
France.
“It’s what Frankie is conditioned to do and what he’s
best,” said Meehan of Dettori’s itinerary. “Belmont for a Grade 1,
Paris for an Arc. It’s what he thrives on. He’s a wonderful
professional. We have a great record together, and we hope we can keep
that up, too.”
Dettori’s most recent appearance at Belmont came in
2005 when he rode in five Breeders’ Cup races. Previously at Belmont, he
won the 2001 Breeders’ Turf aboard Fantastic Light and the 1991 Grade 2
Long Island Handicap with Shaima.