Preakness winner Cloud Computing possible for Belmont Stakes

Cloud Computing was already settled back in his Belmont Park stall Sunday morning, one day after upsetting the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico by a head.

Trainer Chad Brown earned his first Triple Crown victory with his first Preakness starter when sending out Cloud Computing, who is owned by William Lawrence and Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables.

“It has sunk in,” Brown said. “We’re thrilled with the result. The horse looks well and our team here is just so happy with the race yesterday.”

Jockey Javier Castellano was aboard the dark bay son of Maclean’s Music for the first time in the Preakness, and the duo tracked the pace set by Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming and champion Classic Empire. The latter took command when Always Dreaming began fading on the turn, but was collared in late stretch by Cloud Computing, who inched clear in the shadow of the wire.

“We got a beautiful, beautiful trip in the Preakness and the horse really responded,” Brown said.

Cloud Computing now boasts a 4-2-1-1 career mark, all of which have come this year, and could make his next start in the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 10.

“We haven’t ruled it out,” Brown said of the Belmont.  “We’re just going to evaluate the horse this week and probably by next weekend we may have a decision.”

Cloud Computing’s connections aren’t shy about bypassing big races. The dark bay sophomore had enough points to make the Kentucky Derby (G1) field on May 6 at Churchill Downs, but Brown and his owners skipped the Run for the Roses to focus on the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Cloud Computing entered the Preakness off six weeks’ worth of training, having made his last start a third-place run in the Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8.

“We were confident in the horse,” Brown said. “It’s really gratifying, for all the hard work everyone puts in here at the barn and to be able to do it for clients like Seth Klarman and Bill Lawrence, who are so loyal, so supportive and so patient. To be able to reward them for their confidence in us is probably the most gratifying thing about the whole experience for me personally.

“They do trust us with a lot of horses, a lot of money invested in our stable and a lot of time spent dealing with good news and bad news. It’s great to be able to give back to them, especially to Seth, who is from Baltimore. Everything aligned perfectly yesterday.”