Runaway Algo true to form in Eros Trophy feature
Runaway Algo led from the start and was never challenged in what was truly a very stunning win in the $1.75-million Eros Trophy feature event on Saturday’s 10-race schedule at Caymanas Park.
The four-year-old American-bred chestnut colt Runaway Algo easily won the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance race for three-year-olds and above over seven furlongs (1,400m) without breaking a sweat.
Runaway Algo, who was winning for the second time in a row, set quarterly splits of 23.4 x 46.0 x 1:113 before stopping the clock in 1:26.3.
It was expected to be an interesting contest which involved fellow American-bred I Am Fred and locally-bred Mahogany, but Runaway Algo left his opponents in the dust as he stormed to the front at the start and never looked back.
The pace was slowed slightly towards the five-furlong (1,000m) mark by jockey Raddesh Roman, allowing I Am Fred (Reyan Lewis) and Mahogany (Dane Dawkins) to fight for the lead. However, as the half-mile (800m) turn approached, Roman let Runaway Algo go a bit, and the Dale Murphy trainee raised the tempo and drew away from I Am Fred and Mahogany, who were under severe urging from their riders.
Runaway Algo entered the drive, turned on the afterburner, and found himself alone at the wire. I Am Fred came in second, followed by Mahogany in third. Following the scratch of stablemate Eagle One, King Arthur (Javaniel Patterson) completed the frame in the four-horse field.
Meanwhile, leading rider Reyan Lewis maintained his strong form in the saddle, winning three races. Lewis won the first race aboard Whizz Kidd for trainer Jason DaCosta, the fifth race aboard Prosecco for trainer Patrick Lynch, and the sixth race aboard Airstream for trainer Robert Pearson.
DaCosta saddled Phenomenal One (Anthony Allen) in the fourth race for a double for the day. Allen also won two races, including the eighth race of the day, which he won with D Head Cornerstone for trainer Gary Subratie.
Pearson had a double on the card in addition to his charge Airstream, which he won in the 10th and final event with Posing Already (Tevin Foster).
Racing resumes on Tuesday, August 1.