Appealing Tale to play “catch me” in Kelso

ELMONT, N.Y. – Multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Honor Code will be the horse to beat in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap, but California shipper Appealing Tale will be the horse to catch in the one-turn, one-mile race.

Appealing Tale, trained by Peter Miller, is coming off a front-running victory in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

While Honor Code, the winner of the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney, is using this as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Appealing Tale is using this as a prep for either the BC Dirt Mile or BC Sprint.

“He’s sharp right now, and he’s firing bullets,” Miller said. “He should run his race, and he likes an off track.”

The only other speed in the race looks to be Scarly Charly, who is coming off a nose loss in the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga.

Also entered in the Kelso were Red Vine, Tamarkuz, Mylute, and Matterhorn.