It took a few moments for trainer Jason Cook to fully believe he had just won his first graded stakes Saturday when Three Technique shipped to Belmont Park to capture John A. Nerud (G2) by 3 3/4 lengths, but by Sunday morning the veteran horseman said it all became reality.
Owned by David Miller, Eric Grindley, and John Werner, Three Technique rated off the pace and saved ground around the far turn under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano before tipping out in the clear past the quarter pole to draw off to a commanding victory and make the grade while earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I had 87 texts within 5-to-8 minutes, but it probably took a few hours for it to really soak in,” said Cook, who turns 50 on July 6. “I appreciate it more because it's well-earned and it's a satisfying feeling. It means more to me for the people that I'm with than actually doing it. I had some people that were with me yesterday that were at work last week and then in the winner's circle for a Grade 2 at Belmont. It means a lot to me for the people that I bring with me and the people I train for.”
Three Technique entered the seven-furlong John A. Nerud from a one-turn mile triumph in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer on May 27, where he defeated highly regarded Kupuna by a head.
Cook won a 27-way shake when he claimed Three Technique in November 2021 for $40,000. The 6-year-old Mr Speaker dark bay has proven to be an astute acquisition, winning last year's restricted Knicks Go on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs at 36-1 odds. He also finished a close second to Cody's Wish in the Hanshin last July at Churchill Downs before a third place finish in the Grade 3 Ack Ack in September at Churchill.
Prior to joining Cook's stable, he raced for New York-based conditioner Jeremiah Englehart and retired NFL Head Coach Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm. He finished third in the 2021 John A. Nerud behind millionaires Mind Control and Firenze Fire for his previous connections.
Cook mentioned this year's one-turn mile Ack Ack as a long-term objective for Three Technique and did not rule out a start at Saratoga Race Course before then. Three Technique broke his maiden at the Spa during his juvenile season.
“I know he loves this racetrack [Belmont Park] so I knew this would be a good spot,” Cook said. “I don't think he likes Saratoga as much as he does Belmont, but I wouldn't rule anything out. He's running really well and how he does after this race and how he comes back from this will determine where we run him. I need a race in between this and the Ack Ack.”
A lifelong horseman, Cook is the son of the late jockey Lois “L.C.” Cook, who captured the 1957 Kentucky Oaks with Lori-El. He said Saturday's victory was a sentimental one.
“I've trained horses for David for about 25 years and my father galloped horses for [John] Werner's grandfather, who used to train horses,” Cook said. “It is absolutely wonderful for me to have pictures at my house of David's kids when they're five, six years old and then to have pictures of David's grandkids there. It's as cool as it can be.”
Cook recalled Three Technique's Knicks Go win on Derby Day last year, saying it was a special moment for everyone involved.
“This horse has given us thrills a couple of times. To win on Derby Day with all our families there was so cool. It was almost surreal,” Cook said. “Looking back, I think, 'Could it really get any better than that?' It got so wild that day when the horse won. All the families were up in the Gold Room out on the balcony. It got so wild when he won that the TV fell off. Nobody knocked it down, it was just from the vibrations of people jumping up and down.”
Cook, who learned the game from the ground up, said he appreciates all the horsemen that helped him along the way.
“I learned a lot from a lot of different people,” Cook said. “I always had a summer job from the time I was 15 and during spring break I would rub horses. I can remember a time when I was about 15, I helped out [trainer] Steve Penrod during spring break. Coming back from break everyone was talking about what they did and I said, 'Steve gave me a check for $325. I'm rich, y'all are broke!'”
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