Rosie Napravnik, the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks, guided Believe You Can to a brilliant victory
Female jockey, Rosie Napravnik, who was beaten by a neck in last year’s Kentucky Oaks aboard St. John’s River atoned for that defeat big time when she waved past Broadway’s Alibi under John Velazquez in the stretch to become the first female jockey to win
the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks, riding Larry Jones trained Believe You Can on 4 May, 2012, at Churchill Downs.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Napravnik, who also landed the first grade I win of her career. “I’m just so happy and so grateful to be here. I cried a little, but I don’t think I’m done crying yet."
The 5 to 2 favourite Grace Hall tracked the leaders throughout the race, but never had it in her to be part of the duel between Broadway’s Alibi and Believe You Can, as she finished third and Summer Applause fourth, Believe You Can took it by three quarter
of a length.
Last year it was Plum Pretty, who made Rosie Napravnik wait for a whole year, when the filly necked out St. John’s River to dash Napravnik’s hopes of winning the Oaks on the ground.
"Last year was kind of a tease," she said. "I was so close but not there and this year I was determined to be the one in the winner's circle and I had the right horse to do it."
John Velazquez broke sweetly over Broadway’s Alibi from the getgo, and assumed the lead early, while On Fire Baby and the maiden Colonial Empress along with Believe You Can followed the leader.
Broadway’s Alibi carved brisk fractions of 23.12 seconds for the opening quarter mile, 47.47 seconds for the half mile and 1 minute and 11.08 seconds for the six furlong marker running over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a slightly damp Churchill Downs track
but labelled fast.
Brereton C. Jones owned and homebred, Believe You Can detached her from the rest of the field along with Broadway’s Alibi and rallied neck to neck for the wire, but Believe You Can had a little more than expected as she went past her rival to top the 1 1/8
mile distance in 1 minute and 49.50 seconds to win the Kentucky Oaks.
Tags: