Cloud Computing outfinishes Classic Empire in Preakness victory
After a dream trip behind the dueling favorites of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, Cloud Computing ran down 2-year old champion Classic Empire in the stretch to earn the blanket of black-eyed susans.
Out of the gate, Always Dreaming went straight out for the lead from gate 4, and jockey Julien Leparoux hustled Classic Empire from gate 5 to keep up. Cloud Computing tucked in behind in them in third with Term of Art fourth and Conquest Mo Money a bit further back than normal in the fifth position.
With Classic Empire glued to his outside, Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming set fast fractions. The duo put up the first quarter in :23.16, the half in :46.81, and the first three-quarters in 1:11 flat.
With five-sixteenths left to run, Classic Empire took the lead away from Always Dreaming and began to pull away. Looking like a winner in mid-stretch, Classic Empire continued on bravely toward the wire, but behind him, Cloud Computing was starting to close in on the very game champion.
Close to the wire, Cloud Computing pulled on even terms with Classic Empire, but the champ was not done yet. He continued to valiantly fight on after taking the race to favored Always Dreaming early and often. But as the wire loomed, Cloud Computing surged forward one last time to nab Classic Empire by a head.
Senior Investment closed from last place at the three-quarter call to nab third by ½-length over Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee, who rounded out the Preakness superfecta. It was another nose back to Gunnevera, with Multiplier, Conquest Mo Money, Always Dreaming, Hence, and Term or Art completing the order of finish.
As the 13-1 outsider, Cloud Computing paid $28.80, $8.60, and $6.00. Second betting choice Classic Empire returned $4.40 and $4.00, and Senior Investment returned $10.20 for the show. The $2 exacta paid $98.40, the $2 trifecta returned $2,194.60, and the $1 superfecta was worth $8,162.80.
By Maclean’s Music and out of the A. P. Indy mare Quick Temper, Cloud Computing was bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc & Stretch Run Ventures. He is owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence. Today’s Preakness victory was his first graded stakes triumph after finishing secondin the Grade 3 Gotham and third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. Today's big win brings his career record to 4: 2-1-1 with total earnings of $1,071,000.
Winning trainer Chad Brown said after the race, “We were so happy to have Javier [Castellano] on this horse. He rode an excellent race. I’m not going to dispute the fact that we brought in a fresh horse as part of our strategy. Our horse is very talented, too. Classic Empire and Always Dreaming are two outstanding horses. Our strategy was that if we were ever going to beat them let’s take them on two weeks rest and we had six and it worked.”