Fair Grounds: Shanon Nicole looks good if Friday feature remains on turf

The chronic issue of whether the turf course will be used at Fair Grounds figures to arise once again Friday when the featured eighth race rolls around in late afternoon at the New Orleans track.

The complexion of a $46,000, first-level allowance hinges greatly on whether turf-course conditions will force officials to transfer the race to the main track, as has occurred with alarming frequency since Fair Grounds began its 2013-14 meet Nov. 22. Although dry conditions were predicted through the middle of this week, there is rain in the Friday forecast.

Assuming the race does stay on grass, Shanon Nicole is a deserving morning-line favorite in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies, albeit a lukewarm one at 3-1. Trained by Mike Maker for John and Connie Apostelos, Shanon Nicole has rallied to finish second at this same level in her last two starts, both on grass, after having been overmatched in a graded stakes fresh from a September maiden victory.

Leading jockey Rosie Napravnik has the call on Shanon Nicole from post 2 in a race scheduled for about a mile.

Haunted Heroine (post 1, Leandro Goncalves) draws right alongside as a viable challenger, regardless of surface. A gray daughter of Ghostzapper, she hails from the Bret Calhoun barn, which has been on a sustained tear for weeks. Her Dec. 12 maiden victory when stretching out to two turns reflects commendable progress and makes her an obvious threat here.

If the race does come off the turf and is run at a mile and 70 yards on the main track, it’s plausible Teardrop (post 9, Shaun Bridgmohan) could join her fellow gray, Haunted Heroine, in attracting major backing after she put in a very encouraging effort in her return to action on closing day of the Churchill Downs fall meet. Teardrop is one of a handful of promising young Tapit-sired homebreds trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The only other allowance on the nine-race Friday card, a $43,000 sprint for older statebred fillies and mares, serves as the opener, with post time set for the regular 1 p.m. Central. The featured eighth is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. The next twilight program (5 p.m. post) is scheduled for next Friday, Jan. 17.

The Saturday feature (and weekend highlight) is the $60,000 Costa Rising for older statebreds. It, too, faces the familiar on-or-off dilemma as a 5 1/2-furlong race scheduled for the turf.