'Glow' just needs to repeat last

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Hero's Glow, third against optional claiming rivals in his most recent start, will probably be the favorite in Friday's $26,000 headliner at Louisiana Downs, an allowance on turf restricted to horses that have not won a race on the turf other than maiden or claiming.

The race is at about 7 1/2 furlongs, and there are plenty of question marks in the field of 10.

last race was his first for trainer Morris Nicks. He was claimed by the high-percentage Nicks barn for owner Roger Smith. Hero's Glow's last out also came on the grass, and Friday's race lacks runners with recent success on the turf. A repeat performance by Hero's Glow would go far toward him getting his seventh career victory. Leading rider John Jacinto will be aboard.

No horse comes into the race any hotter than Drill Hall.

has won his last three races, and 4 of his last 5, all on dirt. Although unplaced on the turf in his only previous start on that surface, Drill Hall has turned around dramatically since moving into the Keith Bourgeois barn via the claim box late last year.

Drill Hall has developed into an aggressive stalk-and-pounce type and on Friday will bring some sprint speed stretching out. So rider Tracey Hebert should be in a good position if Drill Hall adapts well to the turf.

Unlike Hero's Glow and Drill Hall, who have at least some experience on turf, Smalltown Slew will be making his turf debut. A son of Evansville Slew, Smalltown Slew comes in off a runner-up performance in optional claiming company at Evangeline Downs in his last start. It took a quick winning time of 1:10 for the six furlongs to beat him.

has been in the exacta in his last three starts, including a restricted stakes win at Fair Grounds on March 27. Gerard Melancon, up for a near miss aboard Smalltown Slew in early March that produced an impressive 91 Beyer Speed Figure, returns to the saddle.

, the only member of Friday's cast to have won at two turns on the grass, will try to improve off a fifth-place finish on April 30. That race was his first since a similar performance at Fair Grounds the first week in January.

A stakes winner on the main track and the second-place finisher in the Scott's Scoundrel Stakes at the turf here last summer, Old Lee will be ridden Friday by Jose Riquelme.