Venom and Littleredcorvette won the divided $255,000 Clifford Stewart claiming feature at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Littleredcorvertte, ridden by Omar Walker and dropping down from a $460,000 claiming tag to $220,000, devastated the 12-horse field by 5 ¼ lengths after covering 1,200 metres in a brisk time of 1:14.4.

Sonny'B'Good at odd 4-1 and partnered by Trevor Simpson, closed well to be second ahead of King Al (13-1) under Paul Francis. Ramada, the mount of Richard Mitchell and highly fancied at odds of 5-1, finished fourth.

Littlecorvette, trained by champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta, who is also a part owner, along with Elizabeth Dacosta and Bruce Levy, who are all the breeders, is a three-year-old chestnut gelding by Splinter Red out of Din's Damoiselle (Din's Dancer).

It was the gelding's second win from 10 career starts and earned $139,200 as the winner's share for earnings of $759,400 lifetime.

Earlier, Venom created a minor upset in Division 1 at 8-1 after bursting through the pack close home to run 1,200 metres in 1:15.4 for victory in the 11-horse field.
Trained by Joseph Thomas for owner Michael G Russell,
Venom beat the 99-1 shot Simple Sweet by 2 ½ lengths to open his account after four starts for the season. Simple Sweet was ridden by Donovan Miller.

The victory also gave jockey Larris Allen his first win since returning to the saddle two race days ago after sitting out a 35-day suspension. Fourth was Pure Justice, partnered by Paul Francis.

Venom, a six-year-old chestnut mare by Royal Minister out of Under Thirty (Paramount Jet), was bred by Stephen Davis and was winning for the fourth time from 53 career starts. He earned $138,200 as the winner's share to increase his earnings to $1,892,650 lifetime.

Meanwhile Dane Nelson, who returned from a two-day suspension, booted home a three-timer on the 11-race card. Nelson was aboard Quickster in the second race for owner/trainer Gary Griffiths, Diamond King in the fifth for trainer Anthony E Ferguson and Gallavanter in the seventh for owner/trainer Richard N Phillips.

Walker, who struggled all day, eventually came good with the day's closing double aboard Explosive Peak for trainer Peter McMaster and Littleredcorvette to move his tally to 51 10 more than Nelson on 41.

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