Days before the 2003 Pacific Classic, Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally watched from the balcony of Barn I overlooking the track as Candy Ride went a mile in just over a minute and 36 seconds, in his final major workout before winning the race.
Friday morning, McAnally watched from the same spot as
Suggestive Boy went a mile in 1:37.60 under Joe Talamo, who will be up a week from Sunday in the $1 million race.
Reminiscent?
“It was a different track back then for Candy Ride, much faster,” McAnally said. “But the way he (Suggestive Boy) did it, without really being pressed on at all, everybody was pleased. The owner, his stable manager, everybody.”
McAnally said that from the balcony perch his top assistant, Dan Landers, had clocked Suggestive Boy on the trip around the oval from the seven-furlong pole in just under 1:37.