Francesca Le Donne Photo

Cloud Computing returns to action in 4-year-old debut in G3 Westchester

by Brian Bohl and Heather Pettinger

G2 Sheepshead Bay; G3 Fort Marcy highlight Derby Day at Belmont Park

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Cloud Computing will be making his first start in more than eight months as part of a field of six in the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, at Belmont Park.

Carded as Race 11 on the 12-race card and following the 144th "Run for the Roses", the Westchester is one of three graded stakes on Belmont's slate on Derby Day, joining the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay for older fillies and mares and the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy for 4-year-olds and up on the turf. It is the first three of the 33 graded stakes of Belmont's spring/summer meet.

Cloud Computing, the winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Preakness, will be making his first appearance since running eighth in the Grade 1 Travers on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course. After giving trainer Chad Brown his first career win in a Triple Crown race in edging Classic Empire by a head in the 1 1/8 mile Preakness, the dark bay colt by Maclean's Music ran fifth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy before tiring in the Travers.

After having a chip in his front ankle surgically removed in September, Cloud Computing was wintered in Florida and resumed workouts at Palm Meadows Training Center in February before shipping to Belmont in April. Since arriving, he has breezed four times in preparation for the one-mile Westchester, the traditional local prep for the Grade 1, $1.2 million Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day, June 9.

Manny Franco, who was aboard for Cloud Computing's debut win (and his only victory other than the Preakness in six career starts), will have the return call from post 2.

Conquest Big E is coming off a breakthrough effort in which he won his first graded stakes start in nine attempts, going gate-to-wire to win the Grade 2 Hardacre Mile on March 31 at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Daniel Hurtak and trained by wife, Donna Hurtak, the 5-year-old Tapit gelding has posted a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in two of his last three starts, including a runner-up effort to fellow Westchester contender Tommy Macho when he stalked early and closed strong in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper on January 27 at Gulfstream.

"I believe he can come from off the pace," Donna Hurtak said. "In a lot of previous races, he's had bad luck. But the positive thing about this horse is that he always comes back. Even when he gets in trouble, he keeps coming back and fighting."

Since taking over training duties in April 2017, Conquest Big E has recorded three wins and a second-place finish against strong competition, with his last six starts against graded stakes company.

"I had to do a lot of mental training with him, and I guess that was the key," Hurtak said. "It took about 30 days to get him on the right track after I received him. He was a little underweight and it took a little time to get back together. We kept the same people around him and we had them ship with him. I would have loved to [keep] him at his home in Gulfstream, but those races really don't come up there."

A $700,000 yearling buy at the 2014 Keeneland September sale, Conquest Big E will take his first crack at Big Sandy but has four wins and two second-place finishes in 11 starts at one mile.

Jose Batista, who piloted him to a three-length score in the Hardacre Mile in which he defeated Always Dreaming, will make the trip to New York to ride from the outside post.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of formidable contenders, including Tommy Macho, who finished third behind Conquest Big E and Always Dreaming over a fast track last out.

Owned by Paul Pompa, Jr., Tommy Macho will face Conquest Big E for a third consecutive time, starting when he bested him by three-quarters of a length to win the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper on January 27. Following the victory in his 6-year-old debut, the son of Macho Uno ran again at Gulfstream before shipping back to Belmont to make his first appearance here since running fourth in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap on September 23. Tyler Gaffalione will break from post 5.

His stablemate, Vulcan's Forge, will look to rebound after finishing sixth in the Stymie on March 10 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway will return to graded stakes competition for the first time since running second in the Grade 3 Toboggan on January 27 at the Big A. Trevor McCarthy will exit post 4.

Rounding out the field is Tale of Silence, from trainer Barclay Tagg, from the rail; and Moe Trouble, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, out of post 3.

Stronach Stable's Holy Helena will make her New York return in the Sheepshead Bay for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf, kicking of the day's stakes action as Race 6.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the Ontario-bred filly by Ghostzapper rattled off three straight wins last spring and summer, including a victory over males in the Queens Plate on Woodbine's Tapeta course. She followed that effort with a try over the Saratoga dirt in the Grade 1 Alabama, finishing eighth, before closing out her sophomore campaign with a hard-fought runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby in October. Holy Helena is 2-for-2 so far in her 4-year-old season, most recently posting a 1 ¾-length score in the Grade 3 The Very One on March 3 at Gulfstream Park.

Brown will be represented by a trio of contenders in the Fort Marcy, carded as Race 10 at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.

Chilean-bred Robert Bruce and French import Silverwave will make their respective debuts for their new trainer, while Woodford Racing's Ticonderoga looks to build on the success of his season opener, where he scored a one-length allowance win on April 11 at Aqueduct. Robert Bruce, a 4-year-old colt by Fast Company, is a perfect 6-for-6 in his career, including four Group 1 wins. Silverwave, a 6-year-old son of Silver Frost, will be making his first start since finishing 18th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October.

As New York's Triple Crown headquarters, Belmont Park will host a full simulcast of all the Kentucky Derby action at Churchill Downs on Saturday, complemented by a full day of live racing along with family fun activites and a Belmont Park umbrella giveaway. Derby Day will also feature a Bourbon Festival from 3-7 p.m. in the North Shore Terrace (fourth floor). Tickets are Tickets are $95 per person and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster or by calling 844-NYRA-TIX.

Also on Derby Day, students from area schools will be able to take advantage of Belmont's annual "College Day," offering activities and prizes to college students with a valid school I.D.

Kentucky Derby weekend at Belmont Park, at a glance:

Kentucky Oaks Day

• Date: Friday, May 4, 2018
• Time: First post at Belmont,1:30 p.m. ET; gates open at 10 a.m.
• Kentucky Oaks simulcast: First post at Churchill Downs, 10:30 a.m.; Kentucky Oaks post time, 6:12 p.m.
• General Admission: $5; general parking is free, preferred parking $3 and $7 for the clubhouse lot.

Kentucky Derby Day

• Date: Saturday, May 5, 2018
• Time: First post at Belmont,12:50 p.m. ET; gates open at 10 a.m.
• Kentucky Derby simulcast: First post at Churchill Downs, 10:30 a.m.; Kentucky Derby post time, 6:50 p.m.
• General Admission: $5; general parking is free, preferred parking $3 and $7 for the clubhouse lot. 
• Bourbon Festival: Held at the North Shore Terrace from 3-7 p.m., the Bourbon Festival will feature more than 30 bourbons, beers and hard ciders available for tastings. Tickets are $95 per person and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster or by calling 844-NYRA-TIX. For more information, visit bourbonatbelmont.com.
• College Day: The first 500 college students will receive a complimentary program and a College Day t-shirt, as well as other activities and prizes for students with a valid student I.D. Please visit the College Day Activation Area in the backyard (between the duck pond and playground).
• Belmont Park umbrella giveaway: Attendees who paid for admission will receive a coupon upon entry for a green and white Belmont Park golf umbrella, redeemable at the Giveaway Location inside the Grandstand, while supplies last.
• NYRA Bets Squad: Located on the first floor of the grandstand near the Guest Services center, the Bets Squad will be available to provide the "ins and outs" of thoroughbred racing, as well as expert tips and other wagering information.
• Backyard activities: Family fun activities, including a petting zoo, pony rides, backyard games, giant inflatables, arts and crafts, as well as food trucks available in the backyard.
• NYRA Bets offers: On Derby Day, NYRA Bets is offering a three million-point Hit/Split on the Churchill Downs Late Pick 4, as well as a 10 percent winners' bonus for Kentucky Derby exactas wagered through the NYRA Bets app, up to $20. As always, NYRA Bets players can wager on the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5, beginning Saturday in Race 6, the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay with a post time of 3:30. New members can also take advantage of a $200 Sign Up Bonus with NYRA Bets. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.