Preakness notes: Term Of Art fails as West Coast's only representative in Preakness

Preakness notes: Term Of Art fails as West Coast’s only representative in Preakness

1/14

The 10-horse field leaves the starting gate during the running of the 142nd Preakness Stakes. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

2/14

Classic Empire, with Julien Leparoux aboard, leads the field around the finalturn during the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. (Matt Hazlett / Getty Images)

3/14

Cloud Computingand Classic Empire battle down the home stretch during the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

4/14

Cloud Computing and jockeyJavier Castellano, left, beatClassic Empire andJulien Leparoux to the finish line. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

5/14

Cloud Computing ridden by Javier Castellano, wins the 142nd Preakness Stakes over Classic Empire, with Julien Leparoux aboard, on Saturday. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press)

6/14

Javier Castellano won his second Preakness Stakes by guiding 13-1 shot Cloud Computing to victory Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

7/14

jockeyJavier Castellano poses for photos in the Winner’s Circle withCloud Computingafter the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

8/14

Cloud Computing trainer Chad Brown hoists the winner’s trophy after the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

9/14

Race goers line up at the betting windows below the grandstands on Preakness Saturday. (Jerry Jackson / Baltimore Sun)

10/14

The U.S. Army Golden Knights land in the Pimlico infield as part of Preakness festivities. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) (Jerry Jackson / Baltimore Sun)

11/14

Actor Kevin Spacey in the Preakness Village on the day of the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

12/14

The infield crowd dances to the music of ZEDD before the running of he 142nd Preakness. (Jerry Jackson / Baltimore Sun)

13/14

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker in Preakness Village on the day of the 142nd running of the Preakness Stake. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

14/14

Susan Sommer-Luarca painting horses in the Preakness Village at the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

By John CherwaSpecial Contributor

May 20, 2017 6:30 PM PT

Reporting from Baltimore — The West Coast isn’t used to being an afterthought in Triple Crown races but it certainly was in this year’s Preakness.

Royal Mo was the best hope but he was injured during a workout the week before the race. He was retired.

Doug O’Neill wasn’t planning on running anyone but then Calumet Farm, Term Of Art’s owner, offered up the idea and O’Neill bit.

Term Of Art finished 10th in the 10-horse field.

“I thought [jockey] Jose [Ortiz] had him in a perfect spot and then around the three-eighth pole he said a horse came over on him a little bit and Term Of Art overreacted,” O’Neill said. “He sucked out of it and dropped out of the race and then came on a little bit in the end.

“He’s a talented horse and one of these days he is going to put everything together and is going to be a big-time horse.”

Conquest Mo Money

One of the more disappointing performances was by Conquest Mo Money, who was expected to be on or near the lead. Instead he languished mid-pack and finished seventh.

“I thought he would be more in the race,” trainer Miguel Hernandez said. “It was a little too fast for him. He ran two times already from the outside post so that didn’t bother him. My ride [Jorge Carreno] tried to put him in the race, but it didn’t work out. I think he could go on to Belmont.”

Good investment

Senior Investment, the second-longest shot on the board behind Term Of Art, came through with an outstanding performance to finish third.

“It was great race, I was happy with him,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “He showed me he could compete against these kind and continued to improve. He’s a really good horse with a huge future and I think we’re just getting started with him.”

The colt ran most of his race at the back of the pack and entered the stretch in eighth. His late rally was good but he was 4 3/4 lengths behind Classic Empire at the wire.

“A mile and a half at the Belmont is going to be right up his alley,” McPeek said.

john.cherwa@latimes.com

@jcherwa