Two good races on grass

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The emphasis will be on the infield Saturday afternoon at Louisiana Downs, where the top races on the card are a pair of allowances on the turf.

In the fourth race, a second-level allowance for fillies and mares going about five

furlongs, Seneca Song returns to the region after a disappointing winter and spring campaign on the West Coast. In her most recent start, Seneca Song finished sixth in a $35,000 claiming race at Hollywood Park after two equally unsuccessful attempts down the hill on the Santa Anita turf course.

Last summer and fall, Seneca Song was a model of consistency for trainer Chris Hartman, finishing in the money in each of her six starts at Lone Star and Remington, all of which were on the grass. She is once again under Hartman's care and has been training steadily for her local debut. Leading rider John Jacinto has the call.

Trainer James King will send out the 7-year-old mare Runs Naked for her 2007 debut. A winner going Saturday's distance locally last year prior to running fourth in the Majorette Stakes in September, Runs Naked has been idle since finishing unplaced in a money allowance at Remington in late November. Donnie Meche will ride.

In the ninth race on the program, a first-level allowance at one mile, Elluna returns to the grass after finishing

second for the same condition here on May 17 in a race that was moved to the main track because of rain. He has yet to win on grass but did pick up small pieces of purses while facing some tough company at Fair Grounds over the winter. Trainer Al Stall Jr. has given the return call to Jacinto.

Ivor's Empire, a winner of 2 of 3 turf starts for trainer Larry Robideaux, will be

making his first start in the allowance ranks. He comes off a hard-earned victory in nonwinners-of-two claiming company on May 12. That effort earned the 4-year-old Ivor's Empire an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, and a repeat of that effort on Saturday would probably be sufficient to win this race. Todd Dupuis has the mount.