LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Getting an early start on a career always helps.
Rosie Napravnik couldn’t have begun any younger. Her mother, Cindy, rode show horses, and she didn’t stop after learning she was pregnant in 1987.
“I was riding in the womb,” Napravnik said, “and ever since.”
Bouncing around in the saddle before birth didn’t produce her uncanny sense of pace, but it couldn’t have hurt. At 2, the redheaded farm girl from New Jersey was on a pony. At 7, after her first pony race, she decided she would become a jockey. At 23, she will try to be the first woman to ride a Kentucky Derby winner.
Catching on quickly comes naturally to Napravnik, who at 17 went to Pimlico’s winner’s circle in her career debut. Last year she was the first woman to lead the standings at Delaware Park, and this winter her 110 victories won the Fair Grounds title in New Orleans.
Her career highlight came when she took the $1 million Louisiana Derby her first time on Pants On Fire, her Derby mount Saturday for trainer Kelly Breen.
Napravnik is petite (5-foot-2, 114 pounds) but also fearless and cool.
“My fiance criticizes me for ‘never getting excited’ about anything,” Napravnik said. “When the owner asked whether I wanted to ride in the Derby, I was sarcastic and said, ‘Yes, I don’t think I have anything else to do that day.’ But if we win, definitely tears.”
To get there, Napravnik will have to guide Pants On Fire from the No. 7 post position. But confidence has never been a problem.
“I really feel Pants On Fire is as talented as anybody in the field,” Napravnik said. “He runs with an extreme amount of heart.”
Kelly Wietsma represents her and Mike Repole, Uncle Mo’s owner. “I told Rosie I couldn’t put Pants On Fire ahead of Uncle Mo, but I could hope for a dead heat,” Wietsma said. “Rosie said, ‘OK, I’ll wait for Mo at the wire.’ “
To go or not to go.
Uncle Mo’s connections still weren’t saying whether the talented colt will compete in the 137th running of the Derby.
The sleek bay colt was recovering from a stomach ailment, but looked good as he galloped over the Churchill Downs track Thursday, though appearances could be deceiving. Uncle Mo looks about as exotic as his name — average size, with no distinguishing marks like the white splash on Zenyatta’s forehead. But his power is apparent as soon as he starts running.
Last year’s juvenile champion, Uncle Mo is the 9-2 second choice behind 4-1 early favorite Dialed In.
Owner Mike Repole anxiously awaited results from the latest vet exam, and promised to end the drama by announcing a decision today.
“If he’s not what we deem to be 100 percent (today), he’s not going to be 100 percent on Saturday,” he said.
Repole said he won’t sacrifice Uncle Mo’s health to satisfy his 30-year dream of having a horse in America’s greatest race. Either way, he won’t be shut out. He has Stay Thirsty in the full field of 20 horses.
Still, the fast-talking Queens native, who got rich selling his Vitaminwater company to Coca-Cola, doesn’t want to leave his best horse in the barn.
“It’s tough,” he said. “Racing needs superstars, and if he’s 100 percent Uncle Mo could be that superstar.”
