Team Concept has trainer angle on her side

Layoff returnee Team Concept holds a strong hand in Friday’s $10,000 starter-allowance feature over 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs.

Although unraced since April 2023, Team Concept rates a big shot upon her return for trainer Justin Evans. She “has been working lights out,” Evans said. “We’re looking forward to her.”

The mare has sprinted exactly once in her life, and that was in her career debut when a decent fourth of 10. DRF’s Formulator reveals that Evans has won with his past four sprinters returning from layoffs of 400 days or more.

Heading the opposition to Team Concept is last-out winner Frisco Frills, who demolished a field of $25,000 claimers on Aug. 17 over Friday’s distance. In that race, the Miguel Hernandez trainee got away with a soft opening quarter-mile run in 22.64 seconds, and she is likely to get more of a challenge early in Friday’s contest.

She’s So Shiny, a recent claim by Frank Lucarelli, will be making just her fourth start of the season and seems very capable whether stalking or setting the early pace. Last time out, the daughter of Capo Bastone found herself on the inside during a taxing pace duel that took its toll in the stretch. With Friday’s wide draw, She’s So Shiny is expected to improve.

Don’t Tell Hydee is another in Friday’s field from the barn of Evans, and she’s a speedy miss who was drawn into fierce early battle over wet ground in her last race a week ago. The 5-year-old daughter of Gormley can be effective whether setting or stalking the pace and will switch to jockey Karlo Lopez.

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Sophomore Rockit a Day won a maiden race at the $10,000 claiming level on opening day to make her eligible for Friday’s contest. The filly was claimed back then by trainer Bonnie Jenne, who saw immediate success in a $25,000 statebred claimer 27 days later.

Off since July 14, when she was last by 28 1/2 lengths in the Kent Stakes, Rockit a Day will be happy for the class relief on Friday. It should be noted that the pace in the Kent Stakes was very kind to closers and that Rockit a Day flashed a little early speed before dropping back.

Others in the starter-allowance feature are Simply Gracious, a last-out claim by Blaine Wright, and Lady Cruiser, a last-out claim by Joe Toye. Lady Cruiser rides a three-race win streak, having taken each of her last two starts at the $8,000 nonwinners-of-three level. Simply Gracious also exits a win, albeit a narrow one on Aug. 9, when she held on by a head when meeting nonwinners of two.

Warm weather is expected to return to the area for the final two race days in August, with Friday’s first post at 7 p.m. Pacific.

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