Gallagher Expects Appealing to Improve

Even though she was 9-2 in the betting, Appealing disappointed when she finished fifth in the Grade II Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. She was four-wide into the stretch and beaten only 3 ½ lengths in the one-mile turf race.

Trainer Paddy Gallagher expects improvement when the Irish-bred daughter of Bertolini runs in Sunday’s Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

“She’s been training well since the Goldikova,” Gallagher said. “She ran well in the Yellow Ribbon the race before (beaten a head in the Grade II race at Del Mar by Egg Drop). She had a hot foot the morning after the Goldikova, so I’m wondering if that had something to do with her disappointing run.

“But ever since then, she’s been doing really well.”

The field for the Frankel: Becky Lou, Julien Couton, 8-1; Playful Humor, Martin Garcia, 15-1; Moone’s My Name, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Gulsary, Gary Stevens, 4-1; Stormy Lucy, Isaias Enriquez, 9-2; Champagneandcavier, Chantal Sutherland Kruse, 10-1; Customer Base, Mike Smith, 3-1; Nickels Wild, Joe Talamo, 15-1; and Appealing, Corey Nakatani, 4-1.