Amanda's Crown pulls upset

ANDERSON, Ind. - Amanda's Crown and substitute rider Mike Morgan took advantage of a speed duel to rally to victory in Friday night's $74,450 Miss Indiana Stakes for 2-year-old Indiana-bred fillies.

Miss Indiana, heavily favored at 3-10 in the field of 11, hooked up with 8-1 second choice Meladrie from the start of the six-furlong dash. They dueled through fractions of 22.35 seconds, 45.71, and 58.65. Amanda's Crown rolled past them to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:12.15 over a fast track.

Connies Travels rallied to be second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Meladrie who lasted for third. Miss Indiana faded to sixth, beaten 7 1/2 lengths.

With Miss Indiana off the board, place and show payoffs were higher than normal. Amanda's Crown paid $24.40, $10.80, and $16.60. Connies Travels returned $13 and $19.40 and Meladrie returned $12.20. The 7-3-6 trifecta returned $1,490.60.

Trained by Stephen Dunn, Amanda's Crown was second to Miss Indiana in her only other stakes appearance, the City of Anderson on Oct. 5. The win gives her a career mark of 2-2-0 from six starts and earnings of over $70,000. Morgan picked up the mount when Donnie Meche, scheduled to ride Miss Indiana, was unable to make the trip from Kentucky.