No sweat for Runaway Algo in Lindy Delapenha Memorial
As expected, Runaway Algo, in another eye-catching effort, turned the $1.140-million Lloyd Lindbergh “Lindy” Delapenha Memorial Trophy feature into a possession, winning the one-mile (1,600m) race by an ever-increasing 14 lengths at Caymanas Park on Sunday.
Runaway Algo, who was stepping down from Grade One company after his dismal run in the Mouttet Mile last December, was always going to be hard to defeat, and the four-year-old American-bred chestnut colt didn’t disappoint as he crippled rivals in deep stretch to easily beat Money Monster and Crimson in a one-sided affair in the three-year-old and upward Overnight Allowance contest.
Being asked to take up the running from the start by jockey Linton Steadman, the Dale Murphy-trained Runaway Algo easily led Crimson (Raddesh Roman) and Press Conference (Shavon Townsend) down the backstretch. Still under a tight hold, Runaway Algo upped the tempo going into the half-mile ahead of Money Monster (Reyan Lewis) and Press Conference and looked very comfortable on the front end entering the straight.
Runaway Algo was only asked to run inside the furlong (200m) pole, and when he did, he sprinted clear under the hand ride to register his sixth career victory from 13 starts on local soil. He completed the distance in a decent tie of 1:38.1 (24.4 x 48.3 x 1:13.1).
Champion Dane Dawkins was the pick among the riders, with two winners on the 11-race card. He won the third race aboard Josh for trainer Richard Azan and the nightcap aboard Another Bullet for trainer Gary Crawford.
Jockeys Matthew Bennett and Abigail Able had a scare after falling from their mounts during the ninth race. Bennett was aboard Exotic Light when the three-year-old made contact with Kissmet (Robert Halledeen) in the deep stretch before going down, which then caused Able, aboard Gahly Gahly Links, to go down as well. Both Bennett and Able were said to be fine after the spill; however, Able was taken to hospital for further observation.
Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday.