Die Macht » ROOMReds: RHP Homer Bailey (right elbow

BALTIMORE -- Rosie Napravniks motivation for winning the Preakness has little to do with making history. With a victory aboard Mylute on Saturday, Napravnik would become the first female jockey to capture the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. More importantly to her, though, it would serve as a triumphant return to Pimlico Race Course, where she launched her outstanding career. "You know what? It would be a great accomplishment, but thats not the reason I want to win it, because no other woman has won it before," Napravnik said in a telephone interview. "I just want to win it for my own sense of accomplishment and for all the people who have been rooting for me since the very beginning. It would be unbelievable to win the race, and I really believe we have a good shot." Napravnik, 25, finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby on Mylute, the best performance ever by a female rider in the sports most esteemed event. "The Derby was a great race," she said. "I mean, he just did everything right. He was a little farther back than I wanted to be, but thats just sort of his running style. He ran an excellent race, made a huge move around the turn down the lane, basically followed (first-place finisher) Orb the whole way. It was the kind of race that he will really move forward from." If theres such a thing as home-track advantage, Napravnik will have it in the Preakness. Her first career win came at Pimlico in 2005, aboard her first-ever mount, Ringofdiamonds, just days after finishing her junior year of high school. One year later, Napravnik swept the rider standings at all four meets at Pimlico. And now shes running in the Preakness, where she will become the third female rider to have a mount, joining Patti Cooksey (sixth aboard Tajawa in 1985) and Andrea Seefeldt (seventh with Looming in 1994). "Its always an advantage if you know a track well," Napravnik said. "I won a lot of races at Pimlico and I like the track. I know the track like the back of my hand, and I appreciate that fact." She can only hope that will be of use against Orb on Saturday. "Whether we can win the race or not, its still to be seen. Its going to be a tough race and Orb is definitely going to be tough to beat," she said. "Either way, Id have to say it will be one of my proudest moments." Thats saying something, because Napravnik has accomplished much since trainer Dickie Smalls sent her out on her first mount on that memorable June afternoon in 2005. Last year, Napravnik won 193 races. Along the way, she became only the second female rider in history to win a Breeders Cup race and the first woman in the 138-year history of the Kentucky Oaks to reach the winners circle. Her career has provided her many rewards and more a few broken bones. She has fractured her collarbone, wrist and leg, but none of that has stopped her from getting back in the saddle. "Ive always been impressed with not only her riding skills, but her competitiveness," said Org trainer Shug McGaughey, who has employed Napravnik in the past. "She wants to be a great jock, shes very, very confident of herself, and when youve got her, youve got a great addition." Its been eight years since her first ride at Pimlico, and Napravnik cant wait for the next one. "If I think about all the places Ive been and the things Ive done, wow, Ive accomplished a lot," she said. "But at the same time, it feels like it was just yesterday when I was galloping there when I was just 16. Time has flown by, but time flies when youre having fun, and I love what I do."Nolan Ryan Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Pete Alonso Mets Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. http://www.metssale.com/mets-dwight-gooden-jersey/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Gary Carter Mets Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. David Wright Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.SAN DIEGO -- Brandon Finnegan made some adjustments after his last start. The changes worked against the San Diego Padres.Finnegan incorporated a changeup into his repertoire and pitched six scoreless innings as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Padres 6-0 on Friday night.I was just throwing a fastball and slider and its not too hard to hit that -- a starter throwing two pitches, Finnegan said. It got to the point where I was cutting (the changeup) and it was like a second slider.We fiddled around with it and in my last bullpen it was nothing but fastballs and changeups. We changed the grip and I was able to command it.Eugenio Suarez tied a career-high with four RBI to back Finnegan and two Reds relievers. Suarez had a run-scoring double and single to pace the Reds to their third victory in four games as the Padres were blanked for 12th time this season, tops in the majors.Michael Lorenzen and Blake Wood worked the final three innings to preserve the shutout.Reds manager Bryan Price had no qualms about pulling Finnegan.It was six innings, 90 pitches and it was a feel-good game, Price said of Finnegans outing. And our bullpen was rested.San Diego, which grounded into four double plays, also had its 25-game home run streak snapped that tied the National League record set by the 1998 Braves.Im glad we ended it, Finnegan said.Finnegan (6-8) scattered four hits and sidestepped a few early jams before settling in. He walked three, but he struck out five in recording his third win in his last four decisions.San Diegos Edwin Jackson (1-1) gave up six runs and 10 hits in five innings. The Reds struck fast, nicking Jackson for four runs in the first inning.Essentially the first inning came down to execution of a couple of pitches, Jackson said. You take away a couple of pitches out of the first inning, its a whole different ballgame.Zack Cozarts one-out double started the rally. Rookie left fielder Alex Dickerson, who had homered in four straight games, collided with centerfielder Travis Jankowski on Cozarts drive into left-center and was forced to leave the game with a right hip contusion.The roughly 10-minute delay to attend to Dickerson wasnt used as an alibi by Jackson.Its easy to make excuses, Jackson said. At the end of the day its all about execution.dddddddddddd. I left a couple of balls over the plate when I had chances to put people away, and I paid for it.Padres manager Andy Green agreed.I thought the first inning he was over the middle of the plate, a little more than he cared to be, Green said. The next three innings he sailed pretty cleanly.Cozart scored on Jay Bruces sacrifice fly. Phillips followed with an RBI single and Suarez chased in two more with a double to left-center for a 4-0 advantage.In Jacksons final inning, the Reds tacked on two runs for a 6-0 advantage. Suarez notched a two-RBI single that scored Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, both aboard via hits.The Padres had a chance to cut into their 4-0 deficit in the second inning when loading the bases with two outs. But Derek Norris lined out to Suarez at third to end the threat.It was among the fine defensive plays the Reds turned in behind Finnegan.A couple of innings the outs came easy and in the other ones they didnt, Price said. The double-play ball was what bailed him out and some of those were well-hit balls. But he was able to stay away from the big inning and he didnt allow the Padres to get back into the game.Not with Finnegans improved changeup back on track.We messed around with it and the one Im throwing now is working, he said. Hopefully we can keep it that way.TRAINERS ROOMReds: RHP Homer Bailey (right elbow) will exit the disabled list and start on Sunday against the Padres.Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder, left ankle) continues to play catch, but theres no timetable for him to resume throwing from the mound.UP NEXTReds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (6-0, 3.09) looks to win his fourth start of the second half when facing the Padres for the second time this season. He threw a career-high eight innings and allowed but five hits when beating San Diego on June 26.Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-6, 5.00) has quickly become one of the rotations senior members after a flurry of trades. Friedrich is trying to rebound from a rocky outing in which he was charged with five runs and six hits against the Nationals on Sunday. ' ' '