Fascinante will be flying on lead in Tampa feature

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Fascinante, who sped an opening quarter in a blistering 20.77 seconds en route to a six-length victory in her most recent start, is once again the horse to catch Saturday when she tops a field of nine turf sprinters in Saturday’s five-furlong allowance feature at Tampa Bay Downs.

Fascinante raced for trainer Wesley Ward last season while showing speed in four starts at Gulfstream Park between February and July. She was well beaten in all of those maiden special weight races.

A daughter of Medaglia d’ Oro, Fascinante was moved to the barn of Efran Loza Jr. and posted a series of solid workouts leading up to her March 28 comeback. Sent postward as the 9-10 favorite in a field of eight maiden special weight turf sprinters, Fascinante broke sharply in the five-furlong turf race and ripped through an eye-catching opening quarter and a half in 44.49, then drew off smartly through the late stages to win by six lengths while being timed in a fast 56.83.

Loza has sent out four winners from seven starters at the current meet. Antonio Gallardo, who currently leads the rider standings at Tampa, will return aboard the 4-year-old filly.

Pass Me a Bottle comes into the race off a short break. The daughter of popular turf sire Concorde’s Tune will be making her grass debut. Trained by Robert Smith, Pass Me a Bottle finished second in her first career start here last season, then won her second start sprinting on the main track. While she has been unplaced in two outings since returning to the races, she has trained forwardly for her first start since February.

Great Red Beauty is still looking for her first win this season but has posted two solid efforts locally sprinting on the turf. The Anthony Granitz trainee was third, beaten 3 1/4 lengths in an allowance turf sprint here in her first start for Granitz. After posting a pair of thirds sprinting on the main track, she finished a fast-closing fourth in a turf sprint against $25,000 claiming fillies and mares. If a speed duel develops Saturday, Great Red Beauty’s chances improve.

Appealynn hasn’t raced since last July but left the winless ranks in a turf sprint at Colonial Downs and has been no worse than fourth in five lifetime starts.