PREAKNESS
a mile that Leparoux realized he had company. He heard Javier Castellano smooching to his colt, 13-1 shot Cloud Computing. With every kiss Castellano blew into his horse’s ear, Cloud Computing extended his stride.
This was not the duel anyone expected. For the last 50 yards, Cloud Computing and Classic Empire shadowed each other — they went nose to nose almost until they hit the wire. In the end, Cloud Computing won the duel and the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes.
It was the first Triple Crown victory for Cloud Computing’s trainer, Chad Brown, and the second for Castellano, who also won the 2006 Preakness aboard Bernardini.
The partnership between the trainer and jockey has helped them dominate grass racing nationally.
‘‘ He rode an excellent race,’’ Brown said of Castellano.
‘‘ I’m glad we did it together.’’
There will be no Triple Crown this year, rendering next month’s Belmont Stakes a race that has lost its potentially historic dimensions. Cloud Computing paid $ 28.80 for a $ 2 bet after completing the 1 3⁄16 miles at Pimlico Race Course in 1 minute, 55.98 seconds.
Always Dreaming, the prohibitive 6- 5 favorite, finished a well- beaten eighth. Velazquez knew he was in trouble as the horses turned for home.
"You could see he just got beat," Velazquez said. "I didn't have it. That's it. Not much to say."
"We were in a position we expected to be," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "I think he just turned around and was a little too quick. He ran so hard in the Derby, and today just wasn't his day."
As Brown stood in the winner's circle, the 38-year-old thought about his late mentor, Bobby Frankel, who came to Pimlico four times and never hit the board in the Preakness. Frankel died of leukemia in 2009.
"It just seems like he has won every race but the Derby and Preakness, really," Brown said. "This is the only race that eluded him in his unbelievable career. I feel this is for him. ... Without his mentorship I certainly wouldn't be here."
Classic Empire’s trainer, Mark Casse, had been eager for this race after the Derby, where everything that could have gone wrong did. In the Derby, Classic Empire was slammed by McCraken at the start and pinballed among horses as they headed for the first turn.
As Classic Empire went into the stretch with three- length lead at the Preakness, Casse thought a win was certain.
"Of course," he said. "But I thought I was going to win a lot of times before, so it doesn't shock me."