Ron McAnally and South American imports are synonymous with success.
The 80-year-old Hall of Fame trainer hopes that trend continues Saturday
when he sends out Argentine-bred Suggestive Boy for owner Jose Cerillo
of Mexico who races as Pozo de Luna, Inc., in the inaugural Awesome
Again Stakes, formerly run as the Goodwood Stakes.
The Awesome Again, one of five Grade I “Win and You’re In’ races
at Santa Anita Saturday, will mark the first race on conventional dirt
for Suggestive Boy, a 4-year-old colt who was sired by the Storm Cat
stallion Easing Along.
“We’re going to give it a try,” McAnally said. “If he runs well,
then we can come back in the Breeders’ Cup (at Santa Anita on Nov. 2
and 3). If he doesn’t run well, then we’ll switch to the grass.”
Suggestive Boy was fifth after attending the pace in the Pacific
Classic on Polytrack last month. He was second in the Grade I Shoemaker
Mile on turf in his U.S. debut on June 30, and then won the restricted
Wickerr Stakes at one mile on turf July 25.
“That sire (Easing Along) is supposed to be pretty good,”
McAnally said, “and they’re sending me some more, so hopefully
Suggestive Boy runs good.”
The field for the Awesome Again, race 10 of 11: Game On Dude,
Rafael Bejarano; Winning Machine, Javier Matias; Nonios, Martin Pedroza;
Groovin’ Solo, David Flores; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo; Empire Way,
Brice Blanc; Richard’s Kid, Garrett Gomez; Balladry, Victor Espinoza;
and Rail Trip, Jose Valdivia Jr.