http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentu...well-farm.aspx
Most times, when a trainer tells you he’s high on his Kentucky Derby hopeful, you take it with the proverbial grain of salt. If he tells you he’s very high on his horse you might take him more seriously, depending on who the trainer is. But when Chad Brown tells you he’s “very very high” on his horse, that’s when you raise your eyebrows and really take notice. That second “very” is big. Well, those are the exact words Brown used when asked what he thought of CLOUD COMPUTING. Brown explained on the internet call-in show “Switching Leads,” which I was thrilled to co-host with Dina Alborano and Jonathan Stettin, that Cloud Computing was one of his best 2-year-olds, but suffered a small chip in his ankle, and they had to be patient with him and clean it up, which delayed his career debut until February 11, putting him way behind the other 3-year-olds. When he won impressively going six furlongs, they made an ambitious decision to run him back in only three weeks in the Gotham Stakes against the top-class El Areeb and J Boys Echo.
“He was jumping out of his skin after his maiden win,” Brown said. “We had some reservations, but we wanted to learn what we had, so we were forced to play the hand we were dealt. We knew he was extremely talented.”
After finishing an excellent second in the Gotham, finishing 7 1/2 lengths ahead of 2-5 El Areeb, despite being too close to the lead, Cloud Computing now likely will take another huge step forward in the Wood Memorial. If he runs another big race, would Brown be concerned sending him to the Kentucky Derby off only three lifetime starts? “He deserves the chance to buck history, and we know he has tremendous stamina,” he said. “Right now he seems to be dragging us to the Derby.”
Some may feel that Cloud Computing should be in the Top 12 after his second in the Gotham, but as a traditionalist, I feel it is asking a lot of a young horse to run in the Derby off only three lifetime starts, and while others have tried it I need to wait until the Wood Memorial, where he will face quality horses, such as One Liner and Mo Town, and El Areeb again, before I have enough confidence to move him into the Dozen. Big Brown won the Derby off only three starts, but he was a total freak running against a very weak group, and Curlin did finish third behind Street Sense and Hard Spun, although well-beaten after encountering some traffic problems. If Cloud Computing bears any resemblance to Big Brown and Curlin after the Wood I admit it will be difficult to leave him off. He enhanced his reputation with a very sharp 5-furlong drill in a bullet 1:00 2/5, fastest of 36 works at the distance. Actually, make that a very very sharp drill.
