Preakness at a glance
the top three
Win: Cloud Computing, a 13-1 shot, ran 1 3/16 miles in 1 minute, 55.98 seconds and paid $28.80, $8.60 and $6 at Pimlico Race Course. It was just the dark brown colt's second career victory.
Place: Classic Empire returned $4.40 and $4. Was run down on the outside and lost by a head.
Show: Senior Investment, a 31-1 shot, was another 4¾ lengths back and paid $10.20.
The break
The race had been billed as a match race between Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Classic Empire, and it was from the start on a rain-soaked course. They broke out of the starting gate next to each other and the fight was on. Always Dreaming took a slight lead with Classic Empire on his flank. Meanwhile, Cloud Computing was back in third as jockey Javier Castellano watched the duel unfold in front of him.
the finish
Classic Empire headed into the stretch with a three-length lead, seemingly on his way to the winner's circle. But the colt also paid a price for putting away Always Dreaming. Classic Empire fought on to the finish line, but couldn't hold off a fresh horse in Cloud Computing, who made a furious charge. Always Dreaming, the clear favorite, faded to eighth.
The scene
A record crowd of 140,327 was on hand despite a cool and cloudy day at Pimlico.
odds and ends
• Trainer Chad Brown earned his first victory in a Triple Crown race. Castellano won for the second time. He rode Bernardini to victory in the 2006 Preakness.
• The Preakness has become a reliable predictor of which horse will be named the top 3-year-old male in the year-end Eclipse Awards: In the last 20 years, only five Preakness champs did not receive those honors. One of them, Rachel Alexandra, was a filly and not eligible for the award but, on the strength of a brilliant campaign, was named Horse of the Year in 2009.
