Longshot Crowned King Runs Down Great Notion In Rebel
By: John Gaver III

(Mar. 23, 2003) - McKeever Racing Stable's Crowned King, sent off at odds of 36-1, took advantage of a quick early pace and ran down favored Great Notion in the final sixteenth of a mile to score a 1 ¼ length upset win in the 43rd running of the $125,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. on Saturday, Mar. 22.

Comic Truth finished another two lengths back in third. Sir Cherokee, Alke, Antsy, and Power Lion rounded out the official order of finish.

Crowned King broke alertly and was taken in hand by jockey Chandra Rennie, who was content to let 3-5 favorite Great Notion set brisk early fractions of :23 flat for the opening quarter-mile, :46 flat for the half-mile and 1:11 1/5 for six furlongs.

Rennie had Crowned Dancer on the inside as the bay son of Barkerville commenced his late run at the top of the stretch, then eased her mount out into the three path for the stretch drive. The duo collared a game Great Notion inside the final furlong and pulled away to a clear margin of victory at the finish.

The Billy McKeever trainee returned a whopping $75.60, $13.80 and $4.60 to his backers while covering a mile and a sixteenth over a surface rated "fast" in 1:44 flat.

With the $75,000 winner's share of the Rebel purse, Crowned Dancer bolstered his lifetime earnings to $130,700 while winning his third race from 10 lifetime starts.

The next logical spot at Oaklawn for Crowned Dancer, who is not nominated to the Visa Triple Crown, is the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (GII) on Apr. 12, but McKeever would not commit his charge to the race immediately after the Rebel.

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