With Joe Talamo in the saddle, Suggestive Boy outfinished the 2011 Wickerr winner, Calimonco, by three-quarters of a length, with Key Decision another three-quarters of a length back in third. Midnight Interlude was fourth in the field of seven older horses. Liberian Freighter and Rauschenberg were scratched.
“He’s an extraordinary horse,” said McAnally later in the winner’s circle. “I won’t be able to hold him on the ground tomorrow morning. He loves to train; he loves to race.
“He eats everything in sight, including me. He just can’t get enough. I don’t know what’s next, but it will be something bigger and better.”
The 80-year-old McAnally, in his 53rd season at Del Mar, is the seaside track’s second winningest trainer of all-time, having been passed in that category by Mike Mitchell last summer. However, Suggestive Boy provided him with his 75th stakes success, breaking a tie with the late Charlie Whittingham and moving him into second all alone behind leader Bob Baffert.
One of the many highlights of McAnally’s successful career was his work with another Argentine-bred import, the brilliant Candy Ride, winner of the 2003 Pacific Classic.
For Suggestive Boy, it was his fifth triumph in eight starts. First money of $53,220 increased his earnings to $382,370.
Garrett Gomez continued his hot riding this summer, winning with his first three mounts of the afternoon in taking the first, second and fourth races. His nearest rival in the standings, Rafael Bejarano, had a double.
Wednesday’s attendance was 14,976.