Real Appeal headed to 'something real nice'

Real Appeal could develop into a new player on the 3-year-old map. He will likely return to graded stakes competition for his next start after he won his season debut last Saturday night in the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

The race was Real Appeal's first start since finishing fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. He closed well for a 2 1/2-length win in the one-mile race, and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

"I was very pleased," said Tom Amoss, who trains Real Appeal for Roulette Racing. "We're going to try something real nice with him."

Amoss said Real Appeal could start next in either the Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby at a 1 1/8 miles at Hawthorne on April 5, or the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby at the same distance at Oaklawn Park on April 12.

Real Appeal is a son of Successful Appeal. His dam is Formal Process, a three-time winner and half-sister to Grade 1 winner House Party.