Witt Ante rallies to win Delta's Gold Cup Stakes

Witt Ante moved back to dirt for the $100,000 at Delta Downs on Saturday night and closed from next to last for a neck win over Meteor Impact in the one-mile race for horses bred in Louisiana.

Meteor Impact was later disqualified and placed eighth after impeding defending champ Zarb's Luck, who was forced to check sharply into the final turn and ended up eighth. The disqualification moved Walk In The Snow up to second place, and Nitro Chip to third, in the Gold Cup.

Witt Ante ($16.20) settled well off the early pace set by Zarb's Luck, advanced four-wide on the final turn, and rallied through the stretch to cover one-mile in 1:40.55. Tracy Hebert rode the winner for trainer Larry Robideaux Jr.

In his previous start, Witt Ante was second in the $80,000 Shiskabob on turf at Louisiana Downs.

Witt Ante earned $60,000 for the win in the Gold Cup, which was his eighth victory overall from 22 starts and his fifth win in a stakes. He races for David Beard, and to date has earned $389,351.

* On the undercard, Mr. Excellent ($4.80) was left alone on the lead and drove to a length and a quarter win over favorite Robbeau in the $50,000 Calcasieu Stakes for 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana. It was another seven and a quarter lengths back in third to Wade Away.

Mr. Excellent was clear by as much as two lengths through fractions of 22.99 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.06 seconds for the half-mile mark in the five furlong race. He covered the distance in 1:00.50. Steve Bourque rode the winner for trainer Doris Hebert. Mr. Excellent has now won 3 of 4 starts and $79,300.