Cloud Computing was the wild-card in the Preakness field. He’s a lightly raced horse who was unpredictable after 6 furlongs. On the other spectrum, Always Dreaming had high expectations placed on him by his connections and the betting public. His trainer has always been uncomfortable running a horse after a hard race. He was guarded about Always Dreaming’s chances in the Preakness just after the Derby. Bodemeister son was expected to face a serious challenge from Classic Empire, instead it was Cloud Computing who he battled with.

Cloud Computing is from the first crop of Maclean’s Music, a scintillating Santa Anita debut winner by Distorted Humor who never ran again. By skipping the Kentucky Derby to await the Preakness, Cloud Computing had plenty of time to prepare for his toughest race to date. But, according to Cloud Computing’s Brisnet pace figures (which attempt to quantify early speed), Cloud Computing was the most consistently fast horse in the Preakness field. 

Cloud Computing broke sharply and trailed closely behind Classic Empire and Always Dreaming for most of the race. In the end was neck and neck between Classic Empire and Cloud Computing out of A. P. Indy mare Quick Temper. Ultimately, the Maclean’s Music colt claimed the Woodlawn Vase under jockey Javier Castellano. Cloud Computing owner Seth Klarman is amazed by his horse's Preakness Stakes victory. Its also his best early birthday gift! Seth Klarman is a billionaire investor and a hedge-fund manager, also known as the "Oracle of Boston”. 

In another mini-upset, heavy long shot Senior Investment placed fourth. The Preakness can sometimes point the way to its bigger sister race, the Belmont, but the effect of today's two non-Derby horses finishing in the money throws the Belmont Stakes wide open. It does, however, confirm that this crop of three-year-olds may not fully work out who they want to be until the Breeders' Cup, or beyond.