Appealing Tale Deserved a Big One

The Peter Miller trained Appealing Tale had been knocking on the door of late. After a big optional claimer score back in late May, the five-year-old son of Tale of the Cat ran two big races only to finish second in both the Grade 1 Triple Bend and Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in his last two starts. After adequately knocking on the graded stakes door, Appealing Tale went and kicked it in today to win the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes, as the early highlight of the undercard of the 25th running of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic

Of the strength of his sharp recent form, Appealing Tale was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of four, which was shortened by the scratch of Turnover. With Joe Talamo in the saddle for the fourth straight race,  

Appealing Tale went right to the lead from the gate, but was still reserved by his talented front-running rider through a moderate first quarter of :23.34, while followed in close pursuit by both Wild Dude and Indexical.

As the real running began on the turn, Appealing Tale held a narrow advantage with Wild Dude looking like the main stumbling block to the favorite’s first stakes victory. Wild Dude and Flavien Prat may have briefly nudged a nose in front in the stretch, but the nose-to-nose bobbing was short-lived. Appealing Tale fought back, tough as could be, and gamely turned away the strong challenge of the recent Bing Crosby winner. On the wire, Appealing Tale was a determined half-length winner, stopping the timer in 1:21.40 for the seven furlongs.

“This is the fourth time I’ve ridden this horse and he just shows up every time,” said Talamo. “He’s so game. He’s a treat. When I felt that first quarter (:23.34), I was smiling. I really liked that. When that other horse (Wild Dude) came to me in the stretch, he fought back. He fought him off. He’s a good one.”

While the race became a two-horse battle down the lane, Indexical easily held third, 3 ½ lengths behind Wild Dude, but more than five lengths clear of a dull second choice, Kobe’s Back, who was last every step of the seven furlong affair.

A part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series of ‘Win and You’re In” races, the Pat O’Brien victory punches Appealing Tales ticket into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Halloween Day at Keeneland. Owned by Gary and Cecil Barber, Appealing Tale also raised his lifetime record to 24-5-6-6. The winner’s share of the Pat O’Brien kitty increased the game winner’s earnings to $533,222.

As the first choice of the bettors, Appealing Tale returned $4.40 and $2.60, while Wild Dude paid $2.60 to place. Due to the size of the field, there was no show wagering offered.

Sometimes persistence pays off, and so it did today for Appealing Tale. After two tough losses most recently, you could say he deserved a big one like this -- his first graded stakes win of his career. I would not expect it to be his last.