Fair Grounds: Napravnik back, ready for big meet

NEW ORLEANS - Rosie Napravnik broke her left wrist in a spill July 7, and she made her comeback from that injury Oct. 15 at Delaware Park, riding three weeks there upon her return. But Napravnik’s main late-season goal was Fair Grounds – and no wonder.

Napravnik during the 2010-11 meet became the first woman to win a riding title at Fair Grounds, coasting to the leading rider crown with 110 wins, 31 more than the next-highest total.

“I’m really excited to be back,” Napravnik said. “I keep saying that if I do half as well this year I’ll be okay.”

Here’s doubting that Napravnik, who drives herself to succeed, will be satisfied with a 55-win meet. She’s already been here two weeks working horses in preparation for opening day, and she is back with agent Derek Ducoing, who helped guide her excellent business last season.

“I was busy right away working horses for all different people,” she said. “Everyone seemed ready, and hopefully we’ll start off the same way. We’re on a ton of live horses opening day.”

Napravnik has suffered five different significant injuries in her career, but she said coming back from the latest problem was different.

“This was the first time that I never missed a beat,” she said. “There really was not an adjustment period. Usually, it takes a week or so to get back in the flow of things.”

Expect Napravnik to be back in the flow of Fair Grounds racing in no time at all.