Napravnik Looking Forward to Belmont Stakes

Of those attempting to deny California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (Grade I) is General a Rod for trainer Mike Maker, who will be ridden by Churchill Downs based jockey Rosie Napravnik.

 

Napravnik rode General a Rod once in his maiden debut at Keeneland in October 2013, which he won by 2 ¾ lengths.

 

“Just warming him up that day I was like, ‘Man this is a really classy horse,’” Napravnik said. “He ran so well that day, a little bit green, but he ran really well. Since then he went to Florida but I’ve always kept an eye on him and couldn’t wait to get a chance to ride him again. I’m really looking forward to it.”

 

Napravnik’s mounts finished behind General a Rod in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Napravnik rode Vicar’s In Trouble in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) who finished 19^th, and Bayern in the Preakness (GI), who finished ninth.

 

General a Rod was 11^th in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness.

 

“California Chrome is definitely impressive,” Napravnik said. “In my career, he’s probably the horse that has the best chance to take the Triple Crown. But if you watch General a Rod’s Preakness race he got an atrocious trip, it was just awful. So I think if he gets a clean trip he really has the ability to run huge in the Belmont.”