Another Comeback in the Works For Cloud Computing

It's been a minute since he was seen on the racetrack and even longer since he ran past a champion and earned a place for himself in the classic history books, but the career of Cloud Computing remains a work in progress. On Aug. 2, the 2017 Preakness Stakes (G1) victor quietly made a return to the work tab, with a 5-year-old season the latest target for the star-crossed colt.

In May, Cloud Computing made his first start since being sidelined with an ankle chip in September, when he finished fourth in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. The comeback was short-lived as the Chad Brown trainee emerged from that run with another chip that required surgery, which forced Bill Lawrence and Klaravich Stables' first classic winner into recovery mode once more.

Last week, Cloud Computing took the first step toward his latest return when he breezed three furlongs in :40.63 at Stonestreet's training facility near Ocala, Fla. With only seven starts on Cloud Computing's résumé, Lawrence said Aug. 8 that the plan was to get the 4-year-old dark bay son of Maclean's Music  right once more with hopes of taking on the handicap ranks next year.

"He got to the top of the stretch (in the Westchester) and looked like he was in good position but didn't fire, so we looked at him again and found he had another chip taken out," Lawrence said. "He's down at Stonestreet and worked last week. We're hoping he can get back to Chad in a couple more weeks. We're hoping to make some races in the fall, but … more realistically, we'll probably try and get him ready for a campaign next year at this point. That's part of the racing game."

Cloud Computing became Brown's first classic winner when he caught champion Classic Empire  in late stretch of last year's Preakness to prevail by a head. That effort marked the second victory for the colt, who previously finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) and second in the Gotham Stakes (G3).

Cloud Computing went on to finish fifth in the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) and eighth in the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) last summer before the first chip was discovered. Hard luck has been a common thread for the winners of the 2017 Triple Crown races, as that year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) victor Tapwrit have also failed to earn a victory since those signature triumphs.

"Hopefully, 'Cloud' will come back well, and we'll race him as an older horse," Lawrence said.