Napravnik, Lake, Cole Take Pimlico Honors

(from Pimlico report)
The eight-week Pimlico spring meeting ended June 10 with Rosie Napravnik, Scott Lake and Robert Cole winning individual titles. The same trio took the Laurel Park winter stand earlier this year.

Napravnik, the apprentice sensation, dominated the jockey standings for her second career title. After winning 99 races during the Laurel Park winter stand, the 18-year-old won 56 races at Old Hilltop, 31 more than Erick Rodriguez. Napravnik had 17 multiple winning days during the meet. She won a career-best five races on May 11. In one year and one day as a professional rider Napravnik has 229 first place finishes for earnings of $4,216,563.

"It is pretty amazing considering I began my career almost one year ago today and have already won two riding titles," said Napravnik, who ranks fifth nationally in victories. "I am looking forward to riding at Delaware Park this summer. I would probably win a lot more races at Colonial but at Delaware I should learn more and practice my skills to get better. When we come back to Laurel later this summer I will be a journeyman, so that will be another test."

Lake ruled the trainer standings, winning 27 races, 16 more than Howard Wolfendale. The veteran conditioner saddled multiple winners six times, including four on April 23. His runners finished in the money 43 times from 87 starters.

"We are thrilled," said Lake, the nation's leading conditioner who runs horses in five other states. "The horses couldn't have run better. We won nine races during the first week and had a lot of live horses early in the meet. Things worked out well for us. It was a phenomenal meet."

Cole reigned supreme in the owner standings, finishing first 10 times. The Howard County native won races with Lake and Wolfendale.

Final handle numbers will be released next week.

John D. Murphy's odds-on favorite Trickle of Gold sped to the lead and was never menaced as she pulled away to win the $75,000 Skipat Stakes for fillies and mares on closing day.

Trickle Of Gold sped the six furlong distance in 1:11.24 and finished 9 3/4 lengths ahead of Spirited Game, who chased the winner from second throughout and held onto that position at the finish. Chrusciki rallied for third.

The winner paid $2.60 as the overwhelming favorite. Michael Gorham trains the 4-year-old at Delaware Park.

(Chart, Equibase)