Rosie Napravnik became the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks, keeping Believe You Can near the front from the start and pulling away from Broadway’s Alibi in the $1 million race at Churchill Downs.
Napravnik was close in the race last year, finishing second behind Plum Pretty with St. John’s River.
The victory on Friday (Saturday AEST) also gave trainer Larry Jones his first Oaks victory since 2008 when he won with Proud Spell.
That celebration was cut short when his other filly, Eight Belles, broke down after a second-place finish the Kentucky Derby and was euthanased.
“It’s unbelievable. I can’t even tell you what I’m feeling right now,” Napravnik said.
“This is what it feels like when your dreams come true.”
Believe You Can followed a similar path to Proud Spell by winning the Fair Ground Oaks in her final lead-up race.
“This filly gave us that ‘wow’ factor,” Jones said.
“You need that wow when you’re coming in here because you’re dealing with tough horses.”
Jones retired in the aftermath of Eight Belles’ death and dealt with memory loss when it was discovered he had high levels of aluminium in his system.
But he couldn’t stay away for long and once he returned, he continued his superb development of fillies, most notably Havre de Grace, last year’s Horse of the Year.
Broadway’s Alibi had been looking for her fifth straight victory and was expected to push the pace, but Napravnik kept Believe You Can close around the first turn in front of a crowd of 112,552.
Broadway’s Alibi, ridden by John Velazquez led the 14-filly field until the turn to the finish when Napravnik caught the leader and edged away to win by three-quarters of a length.
“I just had the horse underneath me. She’s just an excellent filly,” Napravnik said.
“It’s cool to look beside you and see Johnny fading away.”
Napravnik also took her next scheduled mount in 12th race, and won aboard Totally Tucker for the trainer who has so much confidence in her.
