Runaway Algo blitzes to victory in Easter Sprint Cup
IN what can only be described as an impressive, quality display of sprinting, foreigner Runaway Algo thrashed a good field of runners to win the $1.05-million Easter Sprint Cup feature race yesterday at Caymanas Park.
The Easter Sprint Cup was a three-year-old and upwards Overnight Allowance call going five and a half furlongs (1,100m).
With the weekend of thoroughbred racing dedicated to owners, Runaway Algo put on a show to everyone’s amazement when winning by a length and quarter in a career-best time of 1:05.2 for the distance.
After the starter pressed the ‘go’ button and sent the 14 runners on their way, the Dale Murphy-conditioned Runaway Algo shot to the front and held the lead ahead of Trevor’s Choice (Shane Ellis) and Lure of Lucy (Anthony Thomas).
Runaway Algo was then challenged by Mahogany (Dane Dawkins) going into the half-mile turn, with both runners distancing themselves from the rest of the field in a race of their own.
Turning for home Runaway Algo kicked into top gear in deep stretch, sprinting home to score an emphatic victory under Christopher Mamdeen. Runaway Algo won ahead of Mahogany with I Am Fred (Phillip Parchment) closing well for third place.
Runaway Algo, a three-year-old American-bred chestnut colt by Algorithms – Misunify, was registering his fourth-consecutive win from five career starts.
It was the second winner on the day for both Murphy and Mamdeen. Murphy had earlier saddled Kunda Man (Aaron Chatrie) in the third race while Mamdeen was successful with Faulnya Forever in the fourth race for trainer Rudolph Hardial.
Champion trainer Anthony Nunes was not be to left out of the celebration party as he was the pick among the conditioners with a natural hat-trick.
Nunes won the fifth race with Aphelios (Raddesh Roman), the sixth with Amy The Butcher (Dick Cardenas), and the seventh race with Morimoto (Robert Halledeen). All three horses are groomed by Adrian Taylor.
Current leading trainer Jason DaCosta and champion jockey Anthony Nunes had only one winner on the day. The duo won with the American-bred Double Diva in the second race.
After the three days of racing over the Easter weekend, Thomas is now tied with Dane Dawkins in the jockeys’ championship.
Racing continues on Saturday next, April 23.