Cloud Computing breezes strong half-mile, eye on Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Coming off a last-place finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes two weeks ago, Cloud Computing needs to show Chad Brown that he’s ready to return to his Preakness-winning form before the trainer commits the colt to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

Cloud Computing took a big step toward doing just that Saturday morning with a solid half-mile work in 49.29 seconds over the Saratoga main track. The move, done with jockey Javier Castellano aboard, was Cloud Computing’s first since his 5 1/2-length defeat to Good Samaritan in the Jim Dandy and one of two moves he will have before the Travers.

Though it looked like Cloud Computing broke off at the five-furlong pole, Brown said the move was designed to start at the half-mile pole. Cloud Computing went his first eighth in 12.68 seconds, the quarter in 24.32 and came home in 24.97. Cloud Computing galloped very well, going five furlongs in 1:02.50 and six furlongs in 1:15.28.

“He couldn’t have possibly breezed any better today,” Brown said. “He passed the first test for me. We’ll see if he’s up to putting a line through one race and moving onto a race as difficult as the Travers.”

Brown said he was “completely caught off-guard” when Cloud Computing failed to run well in the Jim Dandy on July 29, finishing last of five behind Good Samaritan. He felt he had the horse fit enough to run a winning race, despite the horse not having run since winning the Preakness on May 20.

But the Saratoga main track was deep and demanding early in the meet and perhaps Cloud Computing did not have the necessary fitness to compete at this level.

“That, combined with maybe the layoff from the Preakness to Jim Dandy, had him a touch more out of shape than I thought,” Brown said. “I was feeling pretty good bringing him into that race off his works. He sure looked tired turning for home.”

Brown said he would wait until next Saturday’s workout before deciding definitively whether Cloud Computing starts in the Travers.

“Obviously, the Travers is the race at the top of my list of what I’d like to win for me, my staff; it’d be huge,” Brown said. “I’m looking to participate if the horse takes us there. He’s got to show me we’re willing to put that one poor race behind us and really come with an ‘A’ race.”

Cloud Computing was one of two locally based horses who worked Saturday for the Travers. Girvin, the Grade 1 Haskell winner, went a half-mile in 50.47 seconds shortly after the Oklahoma training track opened at 5:30 a.m.

Joe Sharp, Girvin's trainer, was aboard for the work which went in quarter splits of 24.97 seconds and 25.50. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.47.
Sharp called the work “as good of a work as he’s had in a while. He’s every bit as good if not better than when he went into the Haskell. He’s getting stronger every day.”

Sharp said Girvin would have one more work next week, though he’s undecided whether that will come on the training track or the main track. Sharp, like many horsemen this summer, has not been totally satisfied with the main track, especially in the morning.

“I’ve never been a huge fan of the main track at Saratoga and obviously this year it’s been exceptionally bad, deep,” Sharp said. “For the races, it’s in good shape, but in the morning it’s just been very, very deep.”

As of Saturday, there were 14 3-year-olds under consideration for the Travers. They include Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, Fayeq, Game Over, Girvin, Giuseppe the Great, Good Samaritan, Gunnevera, Irap, Lookin At Lee, McCraken, Outplay, Tapwrit, and West Coast.