Local connections look for more in Preakness
Area owners, including trainer Brown look for a win in Baltimore
Two weeks before the Florida Derby, Terry Finley was given the opportunity to buy a minority share of Always Dreaming. He did, along with other partners at the Saratoga Springs-based West Point Thoroughbreds, including former NYRA race caller Tom Durkin — another Saratoga resident.
“When we bought into him he’d won only an allowance,” Finley said. “It was a very aggressive number at time. Now it looks like a downright bargain.”
That group, along with majority owners Anthony Bonomo and Vincent Viola, were along for the ride as Always Dreaming impressed in the Florida Derby, then topped 19 rivals for a Kentucky Derby win in the slop two weeks ago.
The next stop for the Bodemeister colt is the 142nd edition of The Preakness today at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Always Dreaming drew the No. 4 post and given 4-5 morning line odds. He’ll be next to Classic Empire, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner who rallied for fourth in the Derby, who drew post five and given secondchoice 3-1 morning line odds.
Finley recalled an emotional Derby Day experience.
“Anybody that tells you they’re not nervous aren’t telling you the truth,” Finley said. “It’s intimidating to go out look at twin spires and say, ‘Am I good enough,? Are the Derby gods going to shine down and take care of me so I’m worthy enough to hold the trophy?’”
Like many, he was happy to see trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, a team that makes frequent trips to the winner’s circle at Saratoga during the summer, get a Derby victory together.
“They both have won a Kentucky Derby but they hadn’t won one together,” Finley said. “You can’t imagine how gratifying that is for the owners and many people in the horse industry.”
Always Dreaming isn’t the only local connection in the Preakness, however. Mechanicville native Chad Brown has entered Cloud Computing, a Maclean’s Music colt out of Quick Temper (by A.P. Indy), in the Preakness.
In 2016, Brown secured his first
Saratoga Race Course training title, had the No. 1 trainer earnings in the U.S. and won his first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.
Saturday is an opportunity to win his first Classic race.
Cloud Computing is coming off a third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. He will break from the No. 2 post at 12-1 morning line odds.
Another horse of local interest is Conquest Mo Money, a New York-bred from Twin Creeks Farm. The Uncle Mo colt, out of Stirring (Seeking the Gold), won his first three starts this year before runnerup finishes in the Sunland Derby and Arkansas Derby.
Conquest Mo Money is trained by Miguel Hernandez and will be ridden by Jorge Carreno.