Napravnik in position to score third stakes

After urging her mounts to come-from-behind neck victories in stakes each of the past two weekends at Laurel Park, what can 18-year-old apprentice Rosie Napravnik do for an encore?

Don't be surprised if she does it again Saturday aboard Sea Pines in the $75,000 Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel.

The 10-race live card also includes the $60,000 Snow Goose, a one-mile stakes for fillies and mares.

Sea Pines, who has been second and third in two previous stakes appearances at longer distances, cuts back to six furlongs, where she is 2 for 3, for the Smart Halo.

"I like this spot," said trainer Greg Wilson. "There's a lot of speed we can lay off. Hopefully, the speed will knock itself off on the front end."

Napravnik, the runaway leader in Laurel's jockey standings, earned her first stakes win two weeks ago, when Reckless Ways overtook heavily favored Your Bluffing in the Harrison Johnson Memorial Handicap. She followed up by getting 73-1 longshot Our Peak home first in last week's Private Terms.

The likely favorite in the Smart Halo is Cantora, a Scott Lake-trained filly who missed by a nose to the then-unbeaten Celestial Legend in the Wide Country. Cantora also shortens up after setting the pace and fading in a one-mile first-level allowance as the 6-5 favorite on March 12.

Summer Cruise won her first two starts, both at Tampa Bay Downs, by a combined 15 1/2 lengths in January. High-percentage trainer Mike Zweisler has gotten Summer Cruise's regular rider, Oliver Castillo, to make the trip north.

Of the 10 horses in the Snow Goose, five come out of the March 11 Conniver at Laurel, including Promenade Girl, who finished third as the 3-5 favorite.

Trainer Larry Murray said Promenade Girl's chances were severely compromised when jockey Erick Rodriguez had to steady her with 3 1/2 furlongs remaining.

"That could have been a disaster," Murray said. "She had to check big time. She was placed well by Erick, but I don't think she's quite comfortable between horses.

"I like the fact that she's in the 10-hole," he said of Promenade Girl's post for the Snow Goose. "That outside post will give us some options."

Other contenders include Plata, who finished two lengths in front of Promenade Girl in her first start since September; Princess Pelona, a close second to Promenade Girl in the Nellie Morse; and Take a Check, who will be ridden by Napravnik for the first time after winning an optional claimer on March 3.