Madame Giry faces familiar foes in turf sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Madame Giry might not win the Sunday feature at Gulfstream Park, but in the long run, a wager on her jockey, Jose Lezcano, on the grass has been a pretty solid investment.

From 4,509 career mounts in turf races, Lezcano owns a return on investment of $2.01, an extraordinarily high figure that far exceeds a baseline average of $1.68 (assuming a 16 percent win takeout). Lezcano won turf races here within the last week and a half aboard a pair of 24-1 shots, Hurricane Elvis and Dude About Town.

“People give me good turf horses to ride, I guess because of my percentage,” said Lezcano, 29, who has won four times in as many mounts aboard Wise Dan, the two-time Horse of the Year. “It’s different than dirt. You have to let them break and get comfortable and let them come running.”

That will be the strategy Sunday when Madame Giry returns from nearly two months off against some of the same fillies and mares she faced when fifth in a Nov. 28 turf sprint at Gulfstream Park West. An earner of $573,150, all for Nutmeg Stable and trainer Cam Gambolati, she will square off again versus What a Party, Spun Cap, and Red Minx, the respective 1-2-3 finishers that day.

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In all, a field of 10 is entered in the ninth-race feature, a $58,000 no-conditions allowance at five furlongs on the turf. Aside from the Gulfstream Park West returnees, the lineup also includes the uncoupled Larry Rivelli duo of Nevrmesswithrichie and Richies Sweetheart, either of whom figure as a serious pace factor.

After the 11-race Sunday card, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before a five-day race week resumes Wednesday. First post daily is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Madame Giry (Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-89)

◗ A battle-seasoned 6-year-old turf-sprint specialist who ran up a five-race win streak in 2012, she could benefit from a sizzling tempo, while her outer post is likely to afford Lezcano clear sailing throughout.

Richies Sweetheart (Last 3 Beyers: 66-85-82)

◗ This Illinois-bred homebred invariably shows heels early, regardless of the caliber of company. It’s questionable how she’ll fare in this race, given all the other speed, but she and Joel Rosario will take them as far as they can.

What a Party (Last 3 Beyers: 87-77-80)

◗ A gate-to-wire winner of the Nov. 28 race across town, she has shown the ability to rate, something she might have to do Sunday because of all the speed entered against her.

Spun Cap (Last 3 Beyers: 82-87-95)

◗ This 6-year-old boasts a handful of 90-plus Beyer Speed Figures and might well see a hot pace unfold in her favor, assuming all the opposing speed remains intact. She finished second as a lukewarm favorite in the Nov. 28 race.