Venomous best in King's Court

Bossier City, La. - Making his first start in stakes company a winning one, Venomous finished resolutely under E. J. Perrodin and wore down even money favorite Random Gold to capture Saturday's $50,000 King's Court Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Brandon's Marfa finished third with Grand Bank fourth. That Tat and Final Draft were late scratches.

Trained by Pat Mouton for Gary and Don Holcomb, Venomous ($5.20) lurked just off the pace in the second flight before creeping closer late in the turn while toward the inside. Perrodin steered out slightly and engaged Random Gold nearing the furlong grounds and was edging clear late to prevail by a length and a quarter in a time of 1:09.84 for the six furlongs over a fast strip.

The victory was the fifth in 11 starts for Venomous. The 4-year-old son of Rare Brick has now earned just over $135.000.