Del Mar: McAnally, Talamo like their chances with import in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – There is no hiding the anticipation of trainer Ron McAnally or jockey Joe Talamo these days, because they firmly believe they can pull off a mild upset in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 with Suggestive Boy, the talented South American import who worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Polytrack on Friday morning at Del Mar.

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“He went real good,” McAnally said at his barn after the drill. “Talamo said he skipped over it. He really liked the way he handled it. I liked the way he did it. He didn’t ask him for anything. Boy, he reaches. He’s got such a long stride.”

McAnally won the Pacific Classic in 2003 with another South American import, Candy Ride, who turned in one of the most dazzling performances even seen at this track.

Candy Ride, though, was a known commodity on dirt, the main-track surface back then, whereas Suggestive Boy will be making his first start on Polytrack. To date, Suggestive Boy has raced exclusively on turf, including his only two races in this country. He most recently won the Wickerr Stakes here on July 25 after finishing second in the Shoemaker Mile in his United States debut.