LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rosemary Homeister Jr. is the fifth and most recent woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, having finished 13th aboard 43-1 shot Supah Blitz in the 2003 running. That was little more than a cameo appearance at Churchill Downs for Homeister, who has been based at a number of East Coast tracks since she began riding professionally more than 18 years ago, but she’s working on changing that.

Homeister has been riding regularly at Churchill for the first time this fall, much to her delight.

“I absolutely love it here,” she said. “This is a big plus in my career.”

After the first 6 of 21 fall programs, Homeister already had 4 wins from just 13 mounts, and she will be trying to build on those numbers Thursday when she gets a leg up from trainer Mark Hubley on Your Round, one of the main contenders in the featured ninth race. Although still eligible for the second-level allowance conditions governing the 1 1/16-mile turf race, Your Round has earned an eye-popping $366,967 from 25 career starts.

“I worked him last week in Lexington, and he impressed me as a big, long-striding, classy horse,” said Homeister, who at age 38 has more than 2,400 career wins, second only to Julie Krone among female riders. “I’d have to think he’ll have a good shot in there.”

Your Round will break from post 2 in the $52,000 feature, one of two allowances on a 10-race Thursday card. He could be the second wagering choice behind Asphalt, a stakes-seasoned 3-year-old who most recently was third in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby. Julien Leparoux will be aboard Asphalt for trainer Eddie Kenneally when breaking from post 6 in a field of 11, which includes one also-eligible.

Also in the feature-race lineup is Advice, winner of the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland in April 2009. Advice did not run particularly well in a recent comeback following a 15-month layoff.

In the earlier allowance (race 8), Flourish and Silver La Belle look like the top contenders among nine fillies and mares competing in a $50,000 turf route under a first-level restriction. Flourish will have Kent Desormeaux riding for the high-profile tandem of Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bill Mott.

Written by Marty McGee - Daily Racing Form

First post Thursday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.