Oeuvre carries 5-race win streak into Giant's Causeway

Richard Perkins’ homebred filly Oeuvre will be seeking a sixth consecutive victory Saturday when she goes postward in the 26th running of the $250,000 Giant’s Causeway going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Keeneland.

The 4-year-old Shackleford filly has won nine of her past 10 races for trainer Chris Block. She will be ridden Saturday by Jareth Loveberry, who never has lost on Oeuvre in eight races.

“Oeuvre has talent and has been one of those that matured mentally through her 3-year-old season,” Block said via text. “That combination molded her into what she is. I believe she is a better filly on grass. She is solid on dirt as well, but I believe a little better on grass.”

Loveberry agrees with that assessment for Oeuvre, who has won four of six grass races.

“She will run on anything, but I like her better on grass although she does just fine on dirt,” Loveberry said. “She is special. She matured a lot the last six months starting at Colonial Downs. She started to get into it and relax more.”

Oeuvre, winner of the Mardi Gras and the Nelson Menard Memorial on the turf in her two most recent starts at Fair Grounds, will attempt to turn the tables on Gayla Rankin’s Happy Soul in the Giant’s Causeway. Oeuvre finished just behind runner-up Happy Soul in the Music City at Kentucky Downs in September for her lone defeat since 2021.

Block will try to get the weekend off to a good start when he runs Town and Country Racing’s Knockyoursocksoff in this afternoon’s fifth race.

Second in the Jessamine (G2) on turf here last fall and then runner-up in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs on the dirt, Knockyoursocksoff makes her first start since being eased in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18.

“We are hoping to get Knockyoursocksoff back on track today getting back to turf,” Block said. “She should enjoy the mile and an eighth as well. Never say never, but we will be looking to stay on turf.”