Always Dreaming arrived at Pimlico on May 9 and was put in Stall 40 of the Preakness Stakes Barn, which is traditionally reserved for the Derby winner.

Rivals Always Dreaming and Classic Empire drew posts 4 and 5, setting up a head-to-head matchup of the two morning line favorites.

[13] Always Dreaming and Classic Empire went to the early lead and set a solid pace while Cloud Computing rated a few lengths behind in third.

In mid-stretch, Classic Empire had a three-length lead and looked the likely winner before Cloud Computing angled out from traffic and started closing ground rapidly.

[14] It was the first win of a Triple Crown race for his trainer Chad Brown and the second for jockey Javier Castellano, who was riding the colt for the first time.

"I think possibly some of the reason we won today was because we were patient and didn't throw an inexperienced horse against a 20-horse field in the Derby on a very difficult track", he said.