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.

Oaklawn-based jockey Terry Thompson will head to Prairie Meadows after the Arkansas meet ends April 15, and he has been doing some important advance work for Iowa.

“I’ve been getting on a lot of good horses for Prairie Meadows,” Thompson said.

Thompson, who has won multiple titles at Oaklawn and Prairie Meadows, took a rare vacation following the close of the Iowa meet last August. He traveled to a variety of locales, including the Bahamas and Hawaii. Thompson returned to riding in February at Oaklawn and won with his first mount back, the 19-1 shot Checker Czech.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Irish Freedom is in, while West Coast is off the list of probable starters for Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Wednesday that he plans to have three runners in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby – American Anthem, Irish Freedom, and Reach the World. West Coast was considered a candidate as recently as last weekend.

Baffert said he would prefer to give West Coast an easier race for his next start instead of pursuing the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.

It was strange not to see Jeff Powell on the starter’s stand when the spring-summer session opened Wednesday at Gulfstream Park. Powell, the starter both locally and at Gulfstream Park West since 2007, retired at the end of the championship meeting Sunday to return to his home in Montana. He’s been replaced by Dave Reinshuttle, a longtime member of Powell’s south Florida gate crew.

Powell was honored by a huge throng of his peers in the winner’s circle Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Majestic Quality was essentially packed and ready for a journey to Louisiana last week when word emerged that Unique Bella would miss Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

Quickly, Majestic Quality’s plans changed. A start in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks last weekend was canceled in favor of the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Keith Desormeaux said the absence of Unique Bella because of sore shins “absolutely” led to the decision to keep Majestic Quality in California.

Midnight Storm could be headed to Arkansas.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Tuesday that Midnight Storm, the runner-up in the Santa Anita Handicap, is being considered for the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 15. Midnight Storm, a Grade 1 winner and an earner of $1.6 million, is based at Santa Anita.

“We’re going to breeze him here this weekend, and then we’ll make a decision,” D’Amato said. “If we do decide to go, there’s a plane leaving Tuesday.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Time to Travel, a very impressive maiden winner on last Saturday’s Florida Derby card, has been transferred to trainer Michael Matz’s barn and could make his next start in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland on April 15.

Time to Travel, a Canadian-bred son of Hard Spun, led throughout under Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado to register a 4 3/4-length victory against a strong field of maiden special weight rivals at Gulfstream Park, with his final time of 1:21.84 for seven furlongs over a very fast main track translating to an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Not unlike a Thoroughbred breaking from the gate, Keeneland will get another meet off to a flying start with a three-day weekend that will set the tone for a highly eventful spring at this picturesque track.

Seven graded stakes led by the Blue Grass Stakes will be run Friday through Sunday, with a terrific renewal of the Transylvania Stakes anchoring a 10-race Friday opener. Oscar Performance, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his most recent start, will be favored in a field of nine 3-year-olds in the Grade 3, $150,000 Transylvania.

Churchill Downs officials on Tuesday unveiled the latest renovations to the company’s flagship track in Louisville, Ky. A $16 million project on the second-floor clubhouse area includes major changes to the former Gold Room and Silks Room, with upgraded spaces taking on new names and a modernized look. About 13,000 customers will pass through the area during major events, according to a track release.

Churchill has spent roughly $125 million in capital improvements at the track in the last seven years and nearly $250 million since massive reconstruction was undertaken in 2003.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cash Control, a two-time Grade 3 stakes winner and an earner of nearly $550,000, has been retired and will be bred soon to Quality Road, said owner and breeder Richard Klein. Cash Control, 6, finished second last Saturday in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds.

Klein’s father, banker and philanthropist Bertram Klein, died last month at age 86. Richard Klein said he and his wife and children will continue to be active in racing under the new stable name of Klein Racing.