Fair Grounds: Not On Herb Halts Geaux Sugar’s Stake Streak in Palmisano

New Orleans, La (Jan. 11, 2025) – The odds-on favorites proved vulnerable in both the $100,000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial and $100,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial, two statebred stakes for older sprinters run on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

After pressing 4-5 favorite Geaux Sugar through the far turn, Crusaders Stable’s Not On Herb inched closer to the front runner with every stride down the stretch before finally looking him in the eyeball and wrestling away the advantage to take the 3rd running of the Palmisano.

Jockey Jareth Loveberry piloted the 5-year-old son of First Samurai, who had lost to Geaux Sugar in both the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint and Andrew Ney earlier this meet.

“Having the outside position today helped (turn the tables on Geaux Sugar),” Loveberry said. “(Not On Herb) was just ready. He broke sharp, was on the horse’s hip the whole way. I couldn’t be happier for this horse, this group of people–they have been so good to me since the beginning. This was the first stake horse I won on at Fair Grounds and it’s an honor to win on him again and in this stake race named for Mr. Gary Palmisano.”

Covering six furlongs across a “fast” main track in 1:10.91, Not On Herb won by a head, securing a first local stakes win for his trainer David Terre.

“I’ve won stakes at Evangeline Downs but never at the Fair Grounds,” Terre said. “Fair Grounds is where we all look forward to being, we’re natives of New Orleans and this is the place to be. It’s an honor to win this.”

Not On Herb paid $10.60, $4.00, and $3.00.

“Jareth did a great job putting the pressure on Geaux Sugar early and I think that helped down the stretch,” Terre said. “If we had given him an easy lead, there’s no beating him. I am very happy to win the Palmisano named for a great man, Mr. Gary. I have known him since I was a kid.”

With his win in the Palmisano, Not On Herb added a fourth stakes title to his resume for a career record of 18-8-1-3 resume with career earnings of $339,470.

Earlier in the card, Fountain Grass Thoroughbred Farm’s Classy Judy G handled a field of six fillies and mares to take the $100,000 Bob F. Wright in gate-to-wire fashion in her first stakes try. The lightly-raced 4-year-old covered 6-furlongs in 1:11.58 over a “good” main track, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of the odds-on favorite Manama Gold.

Trained by Patricia West, the 4-year-old Outwork filly made the Wright her second win of the meet, both under the handling of Marcelino Pedroza Jr.

“I knew I had the one to beat behind me,” said Pedroza Jr. “Turning for home I decided to wait a little longer to let her out, but I wanted to get away from them in case she does something like duck out which she has in the past. She’s such a nice filly. I told Patricia the first day I got on her that this is the best one right here that you have.”

With Freeburn pressing to her outside and Manama Gold chasing behind the leading pair, Classy Judy G led through opening calls of :22.19 and :46.11. After turning back Freeburn’s bid at the 1/16th pole, Classy Judy G pulled away and held off the late run from Manama Gold despite drifting out five paths ahead of the wire. Freeburn held on for third.

“She has run a little bit green every time,” West said. “We hope that she gets it together and we’ll have a fun summer with her.”

Sent off at 4-1, Classy Judy G paid $10.00, $4.80, and $3.80.

Having won three straight after running fifth on debut, Classy Judy G has earned $121,920.

Louisiana Derby Poster Contest Submissions to Close on Jan. 15

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots is now taking entries for the 112th Louisiana Derby Poster Contest. Grand prize wins $1,000, clubhouse admission for the LA Derby, their artwork displayed at the LA Derby, an insert in the racing program, and an acknowledgment in the Winner’s Circle the day of the LA Derby. Poster contest submissions will close on Jan. 15.

More information can be found here: https://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/racing-information/laderbypostercontest/

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