If there’s anything Ron McAnally has learned in a Hall of Fame career spanning more than half a century, it’s patience. Do not put the race before the horse. Get your horse ready, then find a race, is the legendary 81-year-old’s credo.
So it applies with Suggestive Boy, who won the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile last March and who again has designs on the prestigious turf race offering $400,000 on March 8.
First things first, and that would be Saturday’s Grade II Arcadia Stakes at one mile on turf. “After that, If everything goes well, we’d look at the Kilroe again,” McAnally said.
A 6-year-old Argentine-bred son of the Storm Cat sire Easing Along, Suggestive Boy has seven wins and two seconds from 13 starts, with earnings of $677,370.
The field for the Arcadia: Procurement, Drayden VanDyke, 12-1; Vagabond Shoes, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; Unbridled’s Note, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1; Si Sage, Martin Garcia, 20-1; Regally Ready, Mike Smith, 6-1; Peace and Justice, Brice Blanc, 6-1; Tom’s Tribute, Gary Stevens, 6-1; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo, 4-1; Winning Prize, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; and No Jet Lag, Corey Nakatani, 6-1.
Suggestive Boy blew out three furlongs on Santa Anita’s firm turf course Thursday in 37.80.
