LAUREL, MD. 09-21-13---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.”

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.