Several angles tab Waupaca in Barksdale

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Waupaca and Crowned King, each of whom ended a prolonged drought by winning his most recent start, should vie for favoritism in Monday's Barksdale Handicap. The $50,000 turf race drew a full field of 12.

The victor in this race a year ago, had not won since then until he took the $40,000 Connecting Terms Stakes at Lone Star on May 7. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel added blinkers to Waupaca's equipment that day, and the 5-year-old son of Forest Wildcat responded with a sharp two-length score, paying $14.20.

Waupaca's price will be considerably shorter on Monday, but his versatile running style and fondness for the local turf course, not to mention the services of E.J. Perrodin in the saddle, will make Waupaca the one to beat. He will carry 119 pounds as the starting highweight.

recaptured some magic of his own last time, rallying strongly despite having to deal with soft fractions in the Alliance Stakes here last month. That was Crowned King's first taste of victory since capturing an allowance race at Oaklawn Park in early 2004.

The victory last out was Crowned King's second on the turf here. He also captured the Bossier City Handicap as a 3-year-old in 2003. Luis Quinonez, aboard for the most recent win, has been named to ride Crowned King by trainer Billy McKeever. Crowned King will carry 115 pounds.

, who won his first start in almost 18 months in an allowance at Fair Grounds late last year, returns to the turf course that launched his long and successful career. An 8-year-old, Candid Glen is winless this season but has been facing some of the best turf runners in the region, including Rapid Proof in the Grade 2, $500,000 Mervin Muniz at Fair Grounds and the $200,000 John B. Connally at Sam Houston in his last two starts.

Candid Glen will be ridden by Carlos Gonzalez at 116 pounds.

Others who rate in the Barksdale, named for nearby Barksdale Air Force Base, are , a close second to Crowned King in the Alliance Stakes; recent allowance winner Zydeco Affair; and Northern Scene, third in the Alliance and first in the Sport City Handicap on the grass here last season as a 3-year-old.