Agent Ryan Not Surprised by Cloud Computing’s Win

The hedge-fund manager started buying horses 25 years ago, eventually leading him back to his old track – where not much about the building has changed – as co-owner of a fresh horse named Cloud Computing in the 142nd Preakness Stakes. Practical Joke finished fifth behind Derby victor Always Dreaming. Who was Super Saver’s trainer? Brands victor Always Dreaming broke sharply from post four and appeared to be moving comfortably beneath John Velazquez as a record crowd of 140,327 buzzed with excitement.

“Classic Empire held on for second, ” Pletcher said. “Maybe the quick turnaround, maybe a different surface, that drying-out surface we were hoping to avoid at Churchill”.

But back inside, lots of fans were still lingering, eyes fixed on several TV screens as other races went off at tracks around the country. “He’s still the Derby victor”.

The stretch battle in the G1 Preakness Stakes between Classic Empire and Cloud Computing was certainly an exciting one for those watching, whether you happened to be at Pimlico in person, or watching on television.

But that is far from a certainty this year. For 37 years, from Affirmed’s 1978 Triple Crown sweep to American Pharoah’s in 2015, no horse could grab the sport’s greatest prize, although 13 went to the Belmont with a chance. So I was coming here focused and looking forward to riding the race and winning it.

“When I spoke to the ownership after the race (Saturday), we all decided that we wouldn’t make any decisions until we got him home and evaluated how he’s doing. We’ll head to Belmont and regroup”.

It was the first win in a Triple Crown race for Brown, the 2016 Eclipse Award victor, who chose to point his lightly-raced colt – Saturday was just Cloud Computing’s fourth career start; his first since a third-place finish in the Wood Memorial on April 8 – away from the Kentucky Derby and toward the Preakness. In the end, it was, but Kentucky Derby victor Always Dreaming wasn’t one of the horses. “So I think that’s actually why we’re here today”. “I think he’s going to be tougher to beat than I thought he would be going into the Derby”. He ran a big, big race. If it wasn’t his huge move to second in the Derby, Lookin At Lee still closed well enough to take fourth by a nose over Gunnevera and neck over Multiplier.

“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”, Brown said. Lookin at Lee completed the $1 superfecta of $8,162.80.

Cloud Computing, coming off a stunning upset win in the Preakness on Saturday, is uncertain to start in the Belmont Stakes. He listed the Travers in August at Saratoga as a major goal. His trainer, Mark Casse, on Sunday morning said “right now, there’s a very good shot” he will run in the Belmont.

“I knew I was in trouble on the backstretch”, Velazquez said, “when the other horse got to him, nearly head to head, and engaged him”. Kentucky Derby also-rans Gormley and Irap have also been mentioned as possible starters for the Belmont.

Epicharis would be the second Japanese horse to run in the Belmont.

For so long in the 142nd Preakness – more than a minute, even – the prospect of a Triple Crown still burned.

In 2016, Japan was able to offer wagering on up to 24 global races annually.