Cloud Computing wins Kentucky Derby

Early voting took place in the winner's circle on Saturday, crossing the finish line at the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes with a comfortable lead to win the famed Triple Crown race.

Epicenter — also the runner-up at the Kentucky Derby — finished second and Creative Minister third at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Early voting, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, was eligible for the Kentucky Derby, but his owners decided to keep him off the Churchills Downs ballot to focus instead on the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.

The Puerto Rican-born jockey, who has often ridden alongside older brother Irad, celebrated his first Preakness win Saturday. He talked about sharing the moment with family.

He said it was a huge race. It has been one of Ortiz's best years since 2017, when he rode Tapwrit to the first-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, took the Eclipse Award as the sport's top rider and topped the field in earnings with $27 million.

It was a big day for owner and hedge fund manager Seth Klarman whose Cloud Computing was the Preakness victor in 2017.

After the race, he said that Cloud Computing was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and now I have a twice-in-a-lifetime. Only with Chad Brown. Brown suggested that this was a present for Klarman's birthday, which coincided with the race Saturday.

The trainer said that I just want to say how happy I am to deliver a classic victory to one of my best friends, Seth Klarman, on his birthday.

Had Early Voting entered the Derby, that could have altered horse racing history by denying the upset winner Rich Strike a spot in the race. Rich Strike was also eligible, who got into the race only due to a late scratch.

Much of Saturday's potential drama was lost when Rich Strike s team announced last week that the colt wouldn't run in the Preakness. He'll focus his efforts on the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

Three thoroughbreds that ran in the Derby were scheduled to start at Pimlico on Saturday.

After the Derby, owner Rick Dawson said Rich Strike needed more rest and recovery.

With our tremendous effort win in the Derby, it is very tempting to change our course and run in the Preakness, he said on May 12. We are going to stay with our plan and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward Belmont in about five weeks. The race, called The Test of Champions, will take place on June 11, just outside of New York City. The grueling 1 mile run is the longest of the three high-profile races for 3 year-old thoroughbreds.

That means the number of horses to have ever won all three races of Triple Crown still remains at 13: Sir Barton 1919 gallant Fox 1920 Omaha 1935 War Admiral 1937 Whirlaway 1946 Seattle Slew 1977 Affirmed American Pharoah in 1978 and Justify 2018