The race of kings may just be won by a queen or more accurately a princess Saturday, after the “Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” is done.
25-year-old Rosie Napravnik will try to become the first female to win the Kentucky Derby, five others before have tried, none finishing higher than 11th. This is Napravnik’s second Derby, her first was in 2011 when she finished 9th on top “Pants On Fire.”
Rosie Napravnik
Even though Napravnik has an impressive resume so far, logging 1300+ wins including last years Kentucky Oaks, and Breeders Cup Juvenile, while finishing 8th in earnings in 2012, she’s NOT the favorite. She is up against 18 other jockeys and their 3-year-old thoroughbreds vying to be first across the finish line in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
She and her horse “Mylute” which is a 12-1 shot (as of the time of this post) will be coming out of the 6 hole, which is a decent slot considering the length of the race, and if the horse can stay calm in the beginning. “Mylute’s” last win ironically came back in December with Miss Napravnik aboard, so they definitely have chemistry.
As far as the women who came before Rosie at Churchill Downs:
1970 Diane Crump
Diane Crump, 1970, on Fathom, finished 15th
Patty Cooksey, 1984, on So Vague, finished 11th
Andrea Seefeldt, 1991, on Forty Something, finished 16th
Julie Krone, 1992, on Ecstatic Ride, finished 14th
Julie Krone, 1995, on Suave Prospect, finished 11th
Rosemary Homeister Jr., 2003, on Supah Blitz, finished 13th
Almost in the money….5th place