Callisto could prove big threat in turf route

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Callisto, fresh off a solid third-place finish against similar company in her first start in three months, looks well placed to pick up her third career win Saturday when she tops a full field of 3-year-old fillies slated for the 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming headliner over the Tampa Bay Downs turf course.

Rosemary Homeister Jr. will return aboard Callisto as that one makes her second start for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.

Four of the 10 starters in the field come into the Saturday feature off winning efforts, including Megan’s Muse, who dueled throughout an off-the-turf, 1 1/16-mile route before coming away with a hard-earned head win at 11--1, and Frosty Girl, who wired her field on turf at Saturday’s distance in her last out.

Callisto raced with some classy company last season as a juvenile, running in stakes in three of her five starts. After winning at first asking at Presque Isle Downs in July, she moved to Mountaineer, where she was unplaced in the $100,000 Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies. She returned to Presque Isle, where she rallied from just off the pace to upset a strong allowance field of sprinters at 29-1.

In her final two outings of 2014, she finished unplaced in the Grade 2 Natalma on turf and the $114,628 Glorious Song over the Polytrack at Woodbine.

Callisto was moved to the O’Connell barn for her 2015 debut, and in that return to action, the long-striding filly rallied from well off the pace, but her rally fell a bit short, and she wound up third, beaten two lengths by Lady Fog Horn.

Loon River comes up from south Florida and has been racing with solid turf foes in her last two starts. An early pace factor in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant in her first race in more than three months, Loon River dropped into optional-claiming company for her last and turned in an even effort when sixth in that turf-mile tilt.

KEY CONTENDERS

Loon River (Last 3 Beyers: 57-37-64)

◗ She exits a turf-mile start that featured a 23.75-second middle quarter and held her ground through that quick portion of the race.

◗ She makes a critical third start in her form cycle and should be a generous price.

Callisto (Last 3 Beyers: 68-48-33)

◗ She looked good while finishing third in her first start for a sharp barn. That race featured a quick 23.87-second final quarter, and she figures to be fitter and a solid threat for this one.

Taterburg (Last 3 Beyers: 58-16-23)

◗ She was much more competitive last out in her first East Coast start.

◗ She has a late-running style that fits well in this speed-laden field and has the bloodlines for success on the green.