This week is Preakness week, and 2017 Preakness winner Cloud Computing joins Preakness winner Smarty Jones at Rodney and Sharon Eckenrode’s Equistar Training and Breeding Farm in Annville, PA. After the recent death of esteemed veterinarian and owner of Pin Oak Lane Farm, Dr. William “Doc” Solomon on May 5, 2026, Eckenrode was called to help complete the 2026 matings for Cloud Computing. “I was called to assist with finishing the season out at Pin Oak Lane Farm. I have lots of history with “Doc” Solomon, and I respected him a great deal. We had a common background with Arabian horses. ‘Doc’ bought and sold and pinhooked Arabians when he was young, and my background is also with Arabians. The call to help turned into a purchase,” said Eckenrode. “Cloud Computing was the 2025 Mid-Atlantic leading sire by number of winners and progeny earnings, and he leads in 2026 too. I think he adds depth to our stallion roster and gives breeders a variety to choose from,” Eckenrode said.
Cloud Computing is by Maclean’s Music out of Quick Temper, a multiple graded stakes-placed daughter of A.P. Indy. He was bred in Kentucky by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures and was sold at the 2015 Keeneland Yearling Sale for $200,000 to Seth Klarman, owner of Klaravich Stables, and William Lawrence. “A.P. Indy daughters are some of the best old bloodlines, and they add quality to the bloodlines of stallions. We like to offer our clients a variety of choices of the best bloodlines in PA. Now we have two Preakness winners, a Kentucky Derby winner, and several millionaires,” said Eckenrode.
A Grade 1 stakes winner, Cloud Computing retired with a record of eight starts, two wins, one second, and one third, and earnings of $1,125,000. Trained by Chad Brown, Cloud Computing won his first outing at age three in a maiden special weight race at Aqueduct. Stepping up to stakes competition, he finished second in the Gotham Stakes in his second start, followed by a third in the Wood Memorial Stakes. Qualifying for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, Cloud Computing’s owners bypassed the Derby in favor of the Preakness Stakes. At odds of 13-1, Cloud Computing won the Preakness by a head beating Classic Empire and Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming.
Moving to Saratoga, Cloud Computing finished fifth in the Jim Dandy and ninth in the Travers. After his poor performance, he was diagnosed with an ankle chip and underwent surgery. After time off, he started twice at four, but retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2019.
The eye-catching, twelve-year old stallion sired five crops of horses of racing age in the U.S. and Chile, resulting in 210 winners with progeny earnings of over $14.6 million. He relocated to Pin Oak Lane Farm in 2024 where he stood for a stud fee of $3,500. “Cloud Computing is 16.2 and a very attractive horse. I want to give a special thanks to Spendthrift Farm for the opportunity to acquire the horse. We need
more mares to breed in PA, and Cloud Computing is a great fit. He has the bloodline, the race record, and the looks to sire more outstanding PA bred race horses,” said Eckenrode.
Cover Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
