Holy Tutta Bella seems to have the best chance in Friday’s $10,000 claiming feature for fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs. Just six passed the entry box and they comprise a group with a pace scenario that handicappers will need to sort out in their minds. The main pace components figure to be Smiling Thunder and She’s So Shiny. Trained by Jennifer Nunnally, Smiling Thunder has drawn the rail and will make just her second start since last August. The daughter of Smiling Tiger found herself on the lead early in a prep race at this same trip four weeks ago. It was the first time in seven Emerald starts that the 5-year-old was in front early. She’s So Shiny will take a steep class drop from the $25,000 claiming level, a tag for which she raced on June 28. Having shown speed in both Emerald starts this season, the Tim McCanna trainee figures to give all she can on the front end. She has had a full slate of interim workouts, ending with a bullet drill last Sunday when she went five furlongs in 58.60. Holy Tutta Bella won an $8,000 claiming race by 1 1/2 lengths at a mile on July 19. The single greatest variable central to Friday’s outcome will be how Holy Tutta Bella exits the starting gate. The Justin Evans charge has been troubled considerably at the start in each of her last three races, including her recent win when she broke in the air and gave up several lengths to the field. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “Holy Tutta Bella is very fast and needs to use her early speed to put herself in a place to win,” Evans said. “I believe it will be a different story,” on Friday, he added in reference to her gate woes. Kevin Krigger has ridden the mare once and will again have the call. “The good thing is that Krigger knows her now,” said Evans. Lemon Drop Lady was also entered by Evans. She is a new addition to the barn and finished fourth on July 19 in the race won by Holy Tutta Bella. The conditioner claimed her for $8,000. Of his new charge, Evans said, “This is a horse I’ve been looking at for a while, that I really like.” Also in the field is Nan Elizabeth, a four-time winner at Emerald whose closing style may have her at the mercy of the pace in the small field. The daughter of Flat Out managed to reel off three consecutive sprint wins at Emerald Downs last summer, all in fields of six or fewer. Most recently, Nan Elizabeth finished second, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by Frisco Frills, in a $15,000 claiming event on June 16. With nearly seven weeks since her last start, Nan Elizabeth worked five furlongs in 59.60 one week ago. Rounding out the cast is deep closer Shezarunaway, who will make her Emerald Downs debut for trainer Dan Markle. The 7-year-old last won in July 2022 going 1 1/16 miles. Her only win around one turn came in a maiden event at Golden Gate Fields in January 2022. Friday’s first post is at 7 p.m. Pacific. Warm weather is anticipated. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.