ELMONT, N.Y. – The comparisons between Early Voting and Cloud Computing are natural and meaningful and are among the main storylines heading into next Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klarman hope the comparisons are equally as natural and meaningful coming out of Preakness 147. In 2017, Brown and Klarman held the lightly raced Cloud Computing out of the Kentucky Derby, despite the colt having enough qualifying points to make the body of the field, and pointed to the Preakness. The move looked ingenious when Cloud Computing reeled in Classic Empire to win the Preakness by a head. This year, Brown and Klarman held the lightly-raced Early Voting out of the Kentucky Derby, despite the fact he too had enough points to make it into the body of the field. The move, so far, looks ingenious when you consider the forward-running Early Voting may have gotten caught up in an extremely hot pace that cooked most of the front-runners in the Kentucky Derby, which was won by 80-1 shot Rich Strike. Both Early Voting and Cloud Computing had three races – all at Aqueduct – before the Preakness. Whereas Cloud Computing had a maiden win, a second in the Grade 3 Gotham, and a third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, Early Voting had a maiden win, a victory in the Grade 3 Withers, and a narrow second-place finish to Mo Donegal in the Wood. :: Get ready for the Preakness with DRF past performances, picks, and betting strategies! Bypassing the Derby, Brown said Friday, seems to have served Early Voting as well as it did Cloud Computing. “I think the time is on his side, certainly being rested, and he’s continuing to improve, which is why we skipped the Derby,” Brown said. “We’re allowing him to keep developing, and I’m seeing that now. From the Wood to now, he’s getting faster and stronger.” Brown certainly seemed happy with what he saw Friday morning at Belmont Park as Early Voting worked five furlongs in 1:00.67 over the main track in his final serious move before the Preakness. With regular rider Jose Ortiz aboard, Early Voting started one length back of the older stakes winner Miles D – pointing to next Friday’s Grade 3 Pimlico Special – but quickly came up on even terms after an opening eighth in 13.24 seconds. The two were head and head through three furlongs in 36.59 and came home, pretty well in hand, through a final quarter in 24.08. It was after the wire that Early Voting drew away from Miles D, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.14 and seven-eighths in 1:26.88. :: Bet The Preakness with confidence! Join DRF Bets and get a $250 deposit match bonus, $10 free bet, and access to FREE DRF Formulator! “I couldn’t be more impressed with the work today,” Brown said. “The horse looks tremendous. My crew here in the winter has done a fabulous job. His weight’s good. He’s always been a hearty horse. His coat looks fantastic for a horse that was here all winter.” Early Voting could vie for second or third choice in the Preakness along with the filly Secret Oath, winner of the Kentucky Oaks. Brown said it’s no secret that Derby runner-up Epicenter is the horse to beat. “He’s the deserving favorite. You’re going to have to go through him to get to the winner’s circle,” Brown said. Brown said he plans to ship Early Voting to Pimlico on Tuesday following a morning training session at Belmont. Early Voting likely will be Brown’s only Preakness entrant. He reiterated Friday that he is leaning against running Derby third-place finisher Zandon back in two weeks in the Preakness, though said he would wait until Sunday to make a final decision. “I just want to make sure I’m not making a mistake not running in what maybe is a short field,” Brown said. “From what I see so far, this horse could really benefit from recovering from that race. He was on his belly trying to get by Epicenter and he couldn’t do it – a valiant effort and a terrific effort. I’m so proud of him. I see a horse that came out of there a little tired from it. That’s why I’m thinking this way.” Brown said he would likely freshen Zandon up for a try at the Jim Dandy and Travers this summer at Saratoga. Skippylongstocking works Skippylongstocking, who was 3 1/2 lengths behind Early Voting when third in the Wood Memorial, had his final Preakness work Friday at the Palm Meadows training facility in South Florida, going five furlongs in 59.60 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:12, per trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Skippylongstocking, son of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator, went in company with stablemate Novo Sol, a long-distance turf specialist who finished third in the Grade 2 Pan American in his last start. The work was the third for Skippylongstocking since the Wood. “I thought he went very well,” Joseph said. “I think he’s improving with every start. He won the allowance race and then finished third in the Wood. He’s definitely gotten better around two turns. I don’t think the Wood was a fluke, and the added distance in the Preakness should help him. And after the results of the Derby, why not take a chance and hope for the best?” Skippylongstocking, who is owned by Daniel Alonso, will van to Pimlico on Sunday. Junior Alvarado, aboard Skippylongstocking in his last three starts, has the call once again in the Preakness. ◗ Happy Jack, who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, will run in the Preakness, trainer Doug O’Neill said Wednesday. Tyler Gaffalione will have the call. ◗ As of Friday, the eight expected Preakness starters were Creative Minister (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Early Voting (Ortiz), Epicenter (Joel Rosario), Happy Jack (Gaffalione), Simplification (John Velazquez), Secret Oath (Luis Saez), Skippylongstocking (Alvarado), and Un Ojo (Ramon Vazquez). Rattle N Roll, who failed to draw in from the Derby also-eligible list, and Shake Em Loose are possible. Shake Em Loose also is possible for the $100,000 James Murphy on turf. Post positions will be drawn 4 p.m. Monday at Citron Restaurant and Bar in Baltimore. – additional reporting by Jay Privman and Mike Welsch 147th Preakness, Grade 1, $1.5 million, 1 3/16 miles, May 21 Horse Trainer Jockey Last Race Creative Minister Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez, Jr. CD alw, 1st Early Voting Chad Brown Jose Ortiz Wood Memorial, 2nd Epicenter Steve Asmussen Joel Rosario Ky Derby, 2nd Happy Jack Doug O'Neill Tyler Gaffalione Ky Derby, 14th Rattle N Roll Kenny McPeek Corey Lanerie Blue Grass, 6th Secret Oath D. Wayne Lukas Luis Saez Ky Oaks, 1st Shake Em Loose Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon Charlie Marquez Tesio, 3rd Simplification Antonio Sano John Velazquez Ky Derby, 4th Skippylongstocking Saffie Joseph, Jr. Junior Alvarado Wood Memorial, 3rd Un Ojo Ricky Courville Ramon Vazquez Ark Derby, 8th Zandon Chad Brown Flavien Prat Ky Derby, 3rd