Tampa Bay Downs: Madame Giry out to start a new streak in Lightning Jet Stakes

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Madame Giry had her five-race win streak snapped when second at Gulfstream Park in her last race, but she will attempt to get back to her winning ways Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs when she tops a field of 12 filly and mare turf sprinters in the $75,000 Lightning City Stakes.

Eddie Castro was aboard Madame Giry for each of her five straight victories. He will be in to ride for trainer Cam Gambolati on Saturday when Madame Giry carries 122 pounds in the five-furlong stakes. Joe Lezcano rode Madame Giry last time, and Gambolati said the rider’s unfamiliarity with Madame Giry had a lot to do with her defeat.

“Jose had never ridden the filly before, and like a lot of fillies, she has her little quirks that you have to be famiilar with to handle her the right way,” Gambolati said. “Eddie and her get along good together.”

Madame Giry had been tried going longer on the turf early in her career, but as Gambolati observed, “she’s really a one-turn horse, two-turn races just don’t suit her.”

After finishing second in her fourth career start going seven furlongs on the turf at Belmont, Madame Giry came back to draw off by three lengths in a six-furlong maiden sprint. She moved to Saratoga, where she rallied from off the pace to take an optional claimer at odds of almost 12-1, then made it 2 for 2 at the Spa by coming from off the pace again for another optional claiming score going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Brought back to Belmont, Madame Giry scored her fourth straight win when she rallied late to take the Smart ’n Fancy Stakes going six furlongs. She then won the biggest race of her career when she rallied by the leaders in midstretch to capture the $100,000 Franklin County Stakes.

In her last outing, Madame Giry drove clear in the stretch as the 4-10 favorite only to be collared late. She finish second, beaten a half-length, by Double the Energy.

Double the Energy also is in Saturday’s feature. She came off a seven-week break to upset Madame Giry last time out. The win was the second from three outings for Double the Energy since being claimed for $50,000 last August. The Linda Rice trainee has three wins from four lifetime starts on the turf.

Trippin’ Along comes off a win at Calder against allowance rivals, while Queen’s Award fell just a neck short of taking the Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway over Polytrack when second in her last.

Brinca took a pair of tough optional claiming sprints over the turf course here last meet, while Christina d’Oro led to the last strides of a rapidly run optional claiming turf sprint here last time out.