This year, there will be five new kids on the block. It will not be the usual faces, and for the game that is a good thing.

Now on deck, we will have some new batters. They are:

Anna “Rosie” Napravnik – She was the first lady rider to win the Louisiana Derby, and also took down the Cajun meet, first in 139 years. She has Pants on Fire ready to roll, and trainer Kelly Breen said he wished they would have run the Derby last week on our radio show.

Jon Kenton Court – This guy has been everywhere. For years, he was a stalwart at Ellis Park, and always was a factor at Kentucky Downs. His father-in-law Jinks Fires joined us, and he said he feels good about his chances. The next day his runner scorched the clock in the morning.

Jesus Castanon – He has been tough on smaller circuits, and now he finally gets his chance on the big stage. He had runner-up Shackleford in the Florida Derby, and you can bet he will get his sleep the night before his big day.

Luis Garcia – A fixture in Florida for years, and rolled with Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go. He has the abilities to move to the next level, and it would be great to see this as his first of many trips to Louisville.

Kerwin “Boo-Boo” Clark – He is 52-years of age, and you can bet he has had many dreams about hearing “My Old Kentucky Home.” This Cajun has been tough like the many before him. I would love to see his name etched in history, and Decisive Moment roll into the winners circle.

Every year, we have seen the best in the game get mounts, and even some have bumped solid riders off of the mount. These new faces are very good, and you can bet they will be tough and trying hard. I would like to think that many more will have this same opportunity, but this year it seems extra special for the up and coming jockeys. One thing is for sure, they will be giving their all to wear the roses.