Napravnik Reaches 1,500 Win Milestone

Two-time Fair Grounds defending jockey champion Rosie Napravnik, who will capture her third straight local title when the Crescent City oval’s current season comes to a close March 31, reached the 1,500 career win milestone in Wednesday’s eighth race aboard Millennium Farms’ Ronda Michelle at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Ronda Michelle was allowed to settle early, gradually improved position in the run down the backstretch, took command approaching the lane and drew off for a three-length tally while kept to pressure.

“It seems like just yesterday I was winning my first race at Pimlico, so I think it came a little quicker than I figured it might,” Napravnik said. “I’m just very thankful for each and every one of the wins and all of the people that helped me to achieve them.”

Conditioned by 11-time Fair Grounds trainer champion Steve Asmussen, Ronda Michelle returned mutuels of $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10 while scoring her first victory in two lifetime starts. She accomplished the one mile and 70 yard distance in 1:48.24 and earned $8,400 for her initial tally.

Rebecca Zundel’s De Dreamer finished second, paying $9.40 and $3.80 while finishing a neck in front of Kimberly Miley’s Strikin Silhouette, who returned $3.20 in the show position.