Napravnik plans to ride in New York this spring, summer

Rosie Napravnik, who barring misfortune is on her way to a second straight riding title at Fair Grounds, will move her tack to New York as soon as the meet in New Orleans ends April 1. Napravnik, who plans to remain in New York throughout the summer, said she’ll be represented by agent Matt Muzikar.

Muzikar currently represents Javier Castellano, the leading rider at Gulfstream Park, and Cornelio Velasquez, second in the standings at Aqueduct. Muzikar will be parting ways with Velasquez when racing at Aqueduct switches to the main track on April 4.

“He’s one of the best agents there, and I’m excited about it,” she said. “It seems like a pretty good opportunity.”

Napravnik, who turned 24 on Feb. 9, rode the Keeneland meet and briefly was at Churchill Downs last spring after spending her first winter at Fair Grounds. Her usual summer home base has been Delaware Park. Napravnik is the first woman to win riding titles at Delaware and Fair Grounds.

Napravnik rode two winter meets at Aqueduct, 2008-09 and 2009-10, but this will be her first full-time shot at the major racing season there.

“Having gotten my feet wet there in the wintertime, I didn’t want to go back full time until I had a really good opportunity to do well and be competitive,” she said. “With the momentum I had the last couple years, and coming off another good meet at Fair Grounds, probably now is the time.”

Napravnik, who has been ably represented by agent Derek Ducoing both seasons in New Orleans, said plans for next winter would be contingent on circumstances later this year.

Napravnik’s husband, Joe Sharp, has been the Fair Grounds assistant for trainer Mike Maker this winter, and Napravnik said Sharp would continue working in that capacity for Maker in New York.

- additional reporting by David Grening