Math says Cloud Computing needs top effort in Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cloud Computing was a late starter, but he seems to be a fast learner. If he continues at this pace, he could very well find himself in the Kentucky Derby.

Unraced until Feb. 11, Cloud Computing likely needs a top-three finish in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct to earn a spot in the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Wood, which drew a field of eight 3-year-olds on Wednesday, offers 170 points to its top four finishers (100-40-20-10) under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the Derby in the likely event that more than 20 horses are entered.

Cloud Computing likely will vie for favoritism in the Wood with Battalion Runner, a Todd Pletcher trainee making his stakes debut in the Wood. The only two graded stakes winners in the field are Mo Town, the winner of the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct last November, and Irish War Cry, the winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream in January. However, Mo Town finished fifth in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds in his 3-year-old debut, and Irish War Cry finished seventh of 10 in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Others entered in the Wood were Stretch’s Stone, Bonus Points, True Timber, and Glennrichment.

Cloud Computing earned 20 qualifying points for his runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Gotham last month over the Aqueduct inner track. That race, at 1 1/16 miles, came just three weeks after he overcame a sluggish start to win his career debut going six furlongs over the inner track.

“I took a shot in the Gotham knowing if it worked out, there’s five weeks to get to the Wood,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He’s so talented, I thought it was worth a gamble. I don’t normally do things like that; it takes a special horse to make me brave enough to try it, and with him, I think he’s a special horse.”

Cloud Computing is a son of Maclean’s Music out of the A.P. Indy mare Quick Temper. He was purchased by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and Bill Lawrence for $200,000 as a yearling at Keeneland. Cloud Computing did breeze five times last June at Saratoga, including once from the gate, but he was diagnosed with a chip in a front ankle that required surgery.

He returned to the work tab Nov. 24 at Palm Meadows and breezed twice there before Brown shipped him to New York to get his career started. Brown and these owners also have Practical Joke, the two-time Grade 1-winning 2-year-old whom they began campaigning in south Florida. Practical Joke is running in Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Cloud Computing lived up to his even-money favoritism in his debut, coming from last to win by 1 3/4 lengths. In the Gotham, he was sitting third behind dueling leaders El Areeb and True Timber. Cloud Computing made a bid for the lead in upper stretch but was no match for J Boys Echo, who went on to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Cloud Computing finished 7 1/2 lengths in front of El Areeb.

Brown felt that Manny Franco had Cloud Computing too close to the early pace, which may have compromised his chances in the stretch.

“I don’t mind the horse being close in his races when we stretch him out if the pace is moderate,” Brown said. “But with the pace as strong as that was, I would have preferred to have the horse a little farther back, and that will be the instructions this time.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. will replace Franco on Cloud Computing.

The Wood will go as race 10 on a 12-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The Wood will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network in a two-hour broadcast that begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes the Blue Grass from Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby.