Del Mar notes: Suggestive Boy being considered for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Suggestive Boy could run in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 after his victory in Wednesday’s Wickerr Stakes on turf at Del Mar, trainer Ron McAnally hinted on Thursday.

McAnally, who won the 2003 Pacific Classic with Candy Ride, said he would like to work Suggestive Boy and Interaction, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on turf here July 21, on the Polytrack synthetic surface here to see how they perform. The Pacific Classic is run over 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic track.

“We’ll breeze them over it and see how they handle it,” McAnally said.

Regarding the Pacific Classic, McAnally would not venture a commitment for Suggestive Boy.

“Maybe,” he said.

In the restricted Wickerr Stakes over a mile, Suggestive Boy ($3.60) won by three-quarters of a length over Calimonco, the winner of the 2011 Wickerr. Suggestive Boy was ridden by Joe Talamo and was timed in 1:33.21.

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Suggestive Boy was Argentina’s top horse in 2011, winning four Group 1 races. The Wickerr Stakes was his second start in the United States, preceded by a second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Betfair Hollywood Park in June. He joined McAnally’s stable last winter.

A 4-year-old colt by the Storm Cat stallion Easing Along, Suggestive Boy has won 5 of 8 starts and $382,370.

Thursday, McAnally said he was encouraged by Suggestive Boy’s appetite a day after the race.

“He was fighting for more this morning,” McAnally said. “He couldn’t get enough.”

Maiden claimer sets track mark

Bares Tripper set a track record of 57.83 seconds for five furlongs in an $80,000 claiming race for 2-year-old maidens in Wednesday’s first race.

The quick win was enough for trainer Peter Miller to plan for a start in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 8. The Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes is a key prep for the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs on Sept. 1.

“It’s back a little quick,” Miller said of the Sorrento. “But it doesn’t look like the race took a lot out of her. If she’s bouncing around and acts good to go, we’ll take a shot.”

Garrett Gomez, who rode three winners on Wednesday, was aboard Bares Tripper, who led throughout her career debut and won by 3 1/2 lengths.

Owned by David Lanzman and Jason Wood, Bares Tripper is a filly by Sky Mesa. She was purchased for $45,000 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training earlier this year.

Thursday, Miller worked his 2-year-old stakes winner Miss Empire a half-mile in 48.20 seconds. Miss Empire won the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park on June 16 and was third in the Landaluce Stakes on July 14.

Zafeen’s Pearl in good spot

The 5-year-old English import Zafeen’s Pearl has had an eventful summer.

She was third in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park in her U.S. debut. Last Sunday, she was part of the paddock sale at Del Mar, but was bought back for $130,000, a figure that was $10,000 short of her reserve price, according to her trainer, Tim Yakteen.

Saturday, Zafeen’s Pearl starts as the expected favorite in an optional claimer over a mile on the main track. A British-bred filly by Zafeen, Zafeen’s Pearl tries to end a five-race losing streak, dating back to a $5,600 handicap on the synthetic track at Wolverhampton, England, last October.

Yakteen said the mare has thrived in recent weeks at Del Mar and “enjoys the beach.”

He said he expects her to move forward from her U.S. debut in the Vanity.

“If she improves as much as she shows in the morning, we could have quite a bit of fun with her,” Yakteen said.