Crawfish King wins Pioneer Stakes

Bossier City, La - Crawfish King, second to even money favorite Ready Ruler when they met in a maiden special weight affair at Lone Star on June 19, turned the tables on that foe Saturday afternoon with an impressive win in the $50,000 Pioneer Stakes. Secret Tunnel finished a distant second, seven and a half lengths back, with Reno Bob reporting home third. Ready Ruler had little left after chasing the winner through early fractions of :21.81 for the quarter and :45.56 for the half mile and had to settle for fourth.

Trained by C. W. "Bubba" Cascio for Blackjack Thoroughbreds, Inc., Crawfish King ($6.80) was ridden by the meeting's leading rider Lonnie Meche. The 2-year-old son of Just a Cat covered the five and a half furlongs in 1:05.01 over a fast strip.