Nitro Chip takes $200,000 Championship

Nitro Chip pulled the biggest upset of Louisiana Premiere Night at Delta Downs on Saturday night when he won the program's richest stakes, the , over favorite Witt Ante and paid $18.80. The Championship was one of six stakes for Louisiana-breds, and the stakes, coupled with four starter races for statebreds, made for total purses of $1 million.

Nitro Chip raced in fourth early in the Championship, overtook Witt Ante in the stretch, and went on to a one and three-quarter length win. It was another six and three-quarter lengths back in third to Meteor Impact. Nitro Chip covered the mile and a sixteenth over a fast track in 1:45.86. Steve Bourque rode the winner for trainer Samuel Breaux. Nitro Chip earned $120,000 for the win, which was his eighth from 14 starts. He has now earned $352,640. Nitro Chip is a 4-year-old son of Finest Hour and he races for Emmitt Pickett.

Destiny Calls ($3.40) defended her title in the $150,000 Distaff, when she tracked Legs O' Neal through six furlongs in 1:13.62, then overtook her for a three-quarter length win in the one-mile race for fillies and mares. Destiny Calls covered the distance in 1:40.81. She earned $90,000 for the win, and overall has a record of 10 wins in 15 starts for earnings of $446,970. Robby Albarado rode Destiny Calls for Vickie Krantz and trainer Gary Palmisano.

Albarado won two other stakes on the card. He guided Crimson Stag ($2.80) to a two and three-quarter length win in the $125,000 Prince for 3-year-olds. Crimson Stag closed from next to last in the seven furlong race, which was run around two turns, covering the distance in 1:28.21. Dallas Stewart trains the winner for West Point Thoroughbreds.

Albarado also won the $125,000 Starlet for 3-year-old fillies aboard Sweet Macaroni ($13.80), who was close throughout for a two-length win over Indigo Girl. Troy Young trains the winner for Five Star Stables.

Young had a stakes double on the card, winning the $100,000 Sprint with Lac Laronge ($9.20). Lonnie Meche rode the winner, who stalked pacesetter Honey Hit and was up for a three-quarter length win over Believe Im Special. Lac Laronge races for Valene Farms.

In the first stakes of the night, Where Is My Daddy ($11.80) overtook pacesetter Kylers Midge past the three-eighths pole in the $100,000 Matron and went on to a three and a quarter length win over Crypto Em. Carlos Gonzalez rode the winner for the partnership of Terry Bailey and James Donnan and trainer Cole Norman.

* The $25,000 guaranteed pick 4, which was made up of the Prince, Sprint, Starlet and Championship, paid $2,205.80. The winning numbers were 8-3-8-4.

* Handle on the program was $1,875,219.