Crowned King wins Minstrel Stakes

Bossier City, La. - Crowned King emerged from a spirited four-horse battle past the furlong marker to win Sunday's Minstrel Stakes by a length and half.

Whippee finished second and Aledo Pass reported home third. Morning line favorite and the only previous stakes winner in the field, Zydeco Affair, was a late scratch as was Broke Again and Favorite Mister.

Crowned King ($4.20) joined the fray in the turn under Chadra Rennie and narrowly showed the way past the eighth pole while between horses. Under brisk handling, the 2-year-old son of Barkerville edged clear in the late going in a time of 1:18.02 for the six and a half furlongs over a fast strip.

Owned by B. C. McKeever and trained by Billy McKeever, Jr., Crowned King won for the second time in four starts and earned $18,000 for his efforts.