The colt awed bloodstock agent Mike Ryan the moment he saw him at Hill N’ Dale Farm before the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015. He already looked good on paper; his dam Quick Temper was a multiple-graded stakes placed daughter of A.P. Indy. The colt’s second dam, Halo America, was the winner of the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1).
The colt’s sire, Maclean’s Music, raced just once in his career before injury forced his early retirement. Still, Maclean’s Music had posted an astonishing debut Beyer Speed Figure of 114 and his jockey Mike Smith and trainer Steve Asmussen were sure that Maclean’s Music had the potential to become a great racehorse.
In addition to his good pedigree, the Quick Temper x Maclean’s Music colt had the true conformation of a winner. “I thought he was one of the best yearlings I had seen in 2015,” Mike Ryan recalled. “He’s LeBron James. He’s got it all: size, strength, substance, quality, and tons of class.”
Cloud Computing entered the Keeneland September Sale ring as Hip No. 1831. He paraded around the ring with his ears pricked, pawing at the ground as Mike Ryan battled for ownership. The hammer finally fell at $200,000; the colt would become part of the barn of William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables.
The colt was sent to Stonestreet Farm’s training center in Florida for his early prep before moving into the care of trainer Chad Brown. Chad Brown worked diligently with the colt to prepare him for the races, though a few issues kept Cloud Computing from debuting until he was three years old.
He didn’t find it too easy when he finally did debut on February 11, 2017. He
broke awkwardly from Aqueduct’s starting gates and had to be steadied. Jockey
Manny Franco took him to the inside and they began to rally up the rail,
passing the two horses in the back before aiming towards the outside to take on
the leaders. Cloud Computing came rolling down the stretch to win by about one
length.
The decision was made to bump Cloud Computing up to graded stakes company for his next start, so he was entered into the Gotham Stakes (G3). The start was much better for the colt and he ended up tracking the pace rather than trailing in last and it looked like Cloud Computing would have a good shot at winning the race. But J Boys Echo would be the star of the Gotham that day – Cloud Computing couldn’t keep up and finished second.
Nevertheless, the Chad Brown trainee had earned himself a few Kentucky Derby points. He made his next start in the Wood Memorial (G2) in an attempt to win even more Derby points. Cloud Computing was off a bit slow again and had to make his way towards the leaders on the outside. By the time they got to the top of the stretch, Cloud Computing was simply too tired to do much better than third.
The colt had earned himself just enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby, but his connections opted to skip the “Run for the Roses” and wait for the Preakness Stakes (G1) instead. That decision ended up paying off handsomely; Cloud Computing tracked the pacesetting favorites in third before challenging them in the stretch. Cloud Computing easily passed by Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and took aim at the Two-Year Old Champion Classic Empire.
Classic Empire tried his hardest to hold off his rival, but Cloud Computing was determined to win. He charged at Classic Empire and stuck his head in front in the final strides of the race, becoming the 13-1 upset winner.
Cloud Computing’s Preakness Stakes victory was the first Classic win for trainer Chad Brown and his owners William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables.
Cloud Computing would struggle to win another race after the Preakness Stakes. He finished last in the Jim Dandy (G2) off of two months rest, following that up with an 8th place finish in the Travers Stakes (G1). A bone chip was found in the colt’s front ankle in September and was surgically removed.
The horse returned as a four-year old in 2018, but failed to win either of his two starts. He was telling his connections that he didn’t want to race anymore and they listened; Cloud Computing would enter stud at Spendthrift Farm.
Though Cloud Computing hadn’t been able to win again after the Preakness Stakes (G1), he had run well in some important races for three-year olds. According to Equibase, he had also earned more than $1.1 million. Spendthrift Farm are confident in the stallion’s capability to wow breeders with his outstanding looks and desirable pedigree.
“Cloud Computing is one of those horses that sells himself immediately when you see him. He’s a classic winner, but he’s also the picture of what a classic horse is supposed to look like,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift’s General Manager. “For him to go on and win the Preakness over Classic Empire less than 100 days after making his debut, that’s pretty special and it speaks to his quality. He’s also out of a Grade 2-placed A.P. Indy mare, and the second dam won the G1 Apple Blossom. There’s a lot to like about Cloud Computing, and we believe breeders are going to love what they see.”
According to BloodHorse, Cloud Computing’s first foal was born in New York on January 17, 2020. It will be just a matter of time before his foals begin to make a name for themselves in the sales ring and, later, on the racetrack. Until then, Spendthrift Farm and the horse racing world anxiously await the days when we learn whether or not Cloud Computing’s good looks and ability are passed down to his foals. So far, the potential looks good.
