Rosie Believed She Could

After sketching the 2011 Oaks victory of Plum Pretty, the chapter follows the jockey of second-place finisher St. John's River, Rosie Napravnik. Overcoming the usual growing pains as well as male prejudice and injuries from accidents during the early part of her career, she had become one of the most popular jockeys at the Fair Grounds near New Orleans by 2012. She had also become the regular first-call rider for trainer Larry Jones, who partnered Napravnik with his Kentucky Oaks hopeful, Believe You Can. The results made history, as Believe You Can won the 2012 Kentucky Oaks with Napravnik aboard, making her the first woman to ride an Oaks winner. Two years later, Napravnik rode a second Oaks winner in three-year-old champion filly Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen. Napravnik retired from the saddle after piloting Untapable to victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and today focuses on retraining former racehorses into other careers.