Madame Giry Fends Off Ju Ju Eyeballs

Nutmeg Stable’s Madame Giry sustained a ferocious rally, first to catch and then fend off Ju Ju Eyeballs to win the $100,000 Jameela Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares at Laurel Park.

Covering the firm turf in 1:08.11 for the six furlong distance, Madame Giry rallied from far back under the urging of Cornelio Velasquez to win by nose.

This was the fourth stakes victory for the Cam Gambolati trainee, a 4-year-old daughter of Castledale. She came into the Selima after defending her title in the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga.

“I told Cornelio don’t forget that it’s the second wire and a long stretch, said Gambolati.  “Cornelio is a smart rider and he talked to Eddie Castro, who’s ridden her a lot. If she gets too close to the front, she starts looking around so Cornelio was pacing with her.”

Madame Giry, who paid $3.60, improves 7-of-15 lifetime.

“I have a lot of confidence in this filly,’ said Velasquez. “She was the best filly in the race. I wanted to wait until the last 3/16ths. I followed Julian Pimentel (rider of Ju Ju Eyeballs) and then asked her for run. When it was time she took off. I had a lot of horse left at the end.”