Nowandforevermore solid on either surface

NEW ORLEANS - The feature race on Monday's Fair Grounds card is an entry-level allowance sprint slated for the turf, but it will likely be moved to the main track after heavy rain inundated the grass course over the weekend.

The surface switch won't bother Nowandforevermore, who has won both of his starts at the meet for trainer Pat Herbert, who has won five races from only eight starters.

"Our horses have all been doing good since they got back to the Fair Grounds," said Herbert, a longtime assistant to Gary Palmisano who is now the trainer of record for the Krantz Stable.

Nowandforevermore, a Sky Classic gelding, defeated Louisiana-breds in an allowance and an optional claimer and now moves to open company. With his good turf breeding, he should do well even if the race stays on the grass.

Nowandforevermore is one of three multiple winners in the body of the field. They are eligible for the condition level because victories over statebreds and claimers are exempted. Nowandforevermore's three victories are matched by Unloosed Bit, an Indiana-bred with wins in restricted company, and Speed Source, who has won two claiming races.

Speed Source, Kelvington, and Black Jack Attack all come out of the same Dec. 30 race, another turf sprint that was washed out. Third-place finisher Speed Source finished ahead of the other two in that race, but Kelvington was right behind in fourth after a lengthy layoff and could improve. Black Jack Attack clearly prefers grass.

Talamo handed week suspension

Apprentice Joe Talamo, the leading rider at the meet, has been suspended for one week beginning Friday for careless riding aboard Take It By Storm in Thursday's seventh race.

Talamo, who won five races on Friday's Fair Grounds card, said he would not appeal the suspension.

"There's nothing you can do about it," he said. "You're blowing in the wind if you appeal it. I know a bunch of people who appealed and it didn't do them any good. It's another part of the learning process."