The bid for the Triple Crown is over.
Cloud Computing won the 142nd Preakness Stakes in 1.55.98, successfully ending Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness favorite Always Dreaming’s Triple Crown run and upsetting multiple favorites.
Classic Empire and Always Dreaming bolted out in front early, splitting the lead multiple times in the first ½ mile, but Cloud Computing made a late run for trainer Chad Brown’s first Preakness win and jockey Javier Castellano’s second Preakness win.
Classic Empire finished second, Senior Investment finished third, and Always Dreaming finished outside the top 5.
Cloud Computing did not run in the Kentucky Derby, but came into the race with 14-1 odds.
MAJOR UPSET: Cloud Computing wins @PreaknessStakes! pic.twitter.com/dHcxkRIjTQ
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 20, 2017
Brown is not the only one who has a special connection to this win. Seth Klarman, one of Cloud Computing’s owners, is a Baltimore-native that grew up watching horse racing at Pimlico. The trainer also revealed that the strategy was to wait behind Always Dreaming and make a late move for the lead.
Always Dreaming ran away from the competition in four consecutive victories this year, winning by a combined 23 ¼ lengths, but could not outmatch Cloud Computing down the stretch. Two years ago, American Pharoah became the first horse to sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 37 years, earning a Triple Crown win.
HORSE OF CARDS pic.twitter.com/Yc8U16a8g5
— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 20, 2017
Contributing: Associated Press
