Oeuvre makes easy work of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras at Fair Grounds brought yet another parade to the winner’s circle for Oeuvre, who won her fifth race in a row and ninth in her last 10 capturing the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths on Tuesday.
Those are pretty heady numbers and 4-year-old Oeuvre is emerging as a serious female turf sprinter for owner-breeder Richard Perkins and trainer Chris Block. Jockey Jareth Loveberry also has been on the team for the five-race winning streak and lauded Oeuvre’s increasingly mature approach to racing.
“It’s all her. I’m just a passenger,” said Loveberry.
Oeuvre, an Illinois-bred by Shackleford out of Love This Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy, is 6-2-0 from eight dirt starts but Block long has believed her calling-card was turf. Indeed, all of Oeuvre’s top speed figures have come on grass, where she now is a four-time winner from six starts.
Tuesday, Oeuvre broke decently and ceded the early lead to Perfect Happiness, racing inside that rival from a pressing position before coming through to take command before a quarter-mile had been run. In the bridle and controlling the race around the turn, Oeuvre turned into the homestretch still full of run, widening her lead to the eighth pole and holding firm to the wire.
New Boss, who lost ground stalking wide around the turn, finished steadily for second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Goin Good. Winning time for about 5 1/2 furlongs over firm going was 1:05.76, and Oeuvre, the favorite, paid $4.80.
The filly had a tremendous 2022 campaign, and already 2 for 2 in 2023, this year could be even better.
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