Madame Giry makes title defense in Franklin County

Madame Giry will seek her second consecutive victory in the $100,000

Franklin

County at Keeneland on Friday. An overflow of 14 fillies and mares,

including a pair of also-eligibles, were entered for the 5 1/2-furlong turf

test.

Trained by Cam Gambolati, Madame Giry capped a five-race win streak when

rallying to a 2 1/2-length score in last year's event and returns to Keeneland

in good form again, posting victories in the August 26 Smart and Fancy at

Saratoga and the September 21 Jameela at Laurel Park in her last two outings.

The four-year-old daughter of Castledale will be re-united with Eddie Castro,

who was up for every win last year but missed her last four engagements.

Madame Giry is the co-highweight at 122 pounds along with Silverette.

A solid performer on the main track, Silverette made a successful transition

to turf two starts back, recording a narrow win in the August 2 Caress at

Saratoga before a convincing tally as the favorite in the September 2 Turf

Amazaon at Parx Racing. Robby Albarado keeps the mount for trainer Dale Romans

and the four-year-old Street Sense filly will be on or close to the early lead.