Ky-based LaRose continues to make splash in New York

From today’s Saratoga barn notes by the NYRA press office (Tim Wilkin photo above of trainer Kinnon LaRose with Adirondack winner Stress Relief)

Rookie trainer Kinnon LaRose on Saturday continued his strong run with 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course when Virabhadrasana won Race 6, a six-furlong maiden event for fillies, by 2 1/2 lengths.

In her lone prior outing, Virabhadrasana trailed the field in last-of-10 before passing tiring rivals to finish fourth, beaten 9 1/4 lengths, in an August 1 race won by Life Changing, who is targeting next Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway. Yesterday, Virabhadrasana was hustled from the gate by returning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. and chased the pacesetter in second before taking the lead turning for home and being driven to a 2 1/2-length score.

“I thought she ran well [in her debut], but she broke horrible,” said LaRose, whose home base is Churchill Downs. “She spotted the field however many lengths and had a really wide trip around there and was really the only one making up ground late. It was a good learning experience for her, and I think it made her mature mentally. Ricardo came and worked her in the week before she ran yesterday. He had the most confidence in the world. He said, ‘Man, this filly is doing great.’”

Virabhadrasana is owned by Dr. Joel Politi, whose wife, Julie, is a yoga instructor. Her name is a reference to the Sanskrit word for “warrior pose.”

“Of course, we just call her ‘Vera’ for short,” said LaRose. “We were super impressed with her yesterday. She ran a great race. She came out of it well.”

LaRose said Virabhadrasana’s next start will be selected after she is shipped to Kentucky.

“She’ll run either at Churchill or Keeneland and we will find something for her,” said LaRose. “There are not too many options coming out of a straight 2-year-old race, but we’ll try to find the best spot for her.”

Virabhadrasana’s victory was LaRose’s fourth of the Saratoga meet, all with juveniles. The trainer also sent out Intraosseous and Midnight Still to maiden victories and won the Grade 3 Adirondack with Stress Relief. Virabhadrasana, Intraosseous, and Stress Relief are all owned by Joel Politi, while Midnight Still is campaigned by Double Down Horse Racing.

LaRose has been allocated eight stalls at Belmont Park but has not yet decided whether he will send a string to that venue this fall.

“It’s been a good meet for us,” said LaRose. “There certainly have been ups and downs, but such is this game. It’s been a good learning experience for me. We brought some nice 2-year-olds here that have performed well. Coming up to Saratoga, this is a place where you want to compete against the best and try to do your best, be able to make sure these horses are right on race day. We’ve been lucky with some of the 2-year-olds we have had, and, hopefully, we’ll close out the meet strong.”

LaRose said he would enter Stress Relief, who won the Adirondack by 3 1/2 lengths on August 2, in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway, which is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. 

Stress Relief breezed four furlongs over the Saratoga main track in 51.25 seconds on Saturday in her final timed workout prior to the seven-furlong Spinaway.

“She’s a filly that doesn’t try to do too much in the mornings,” said LaRose. “She takes good care of herself and came out of it well.”

On Sunday, Midnight Still covered four furlongs on the main track 47.16 seconds. Midnight Still has been pointed toward the Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful next Sunday off a 6 1/4-length maiden win July 11 here at the Spa. Junior Alvarado will take over aboard Midnight Still in the Hopeful, a seven-furlong race open to all 2-year-olds.

“He worked a sharp half,” said LaRose. “Junior came and worked him. It was the first time Junior got on him and got a good feeling of him and got to know him pretty well. It was a good, sharp move for him. We will see how he comes out of it and enter Wednesday for the Hopeful.”

LaRose, who formerly worked as an assistant to Tom Amoss and took over the stable in April after the latter retired from training, expressed gratitude for the continued support he has received from his mentor.

“Tom’s been great,” said LaRose. “I mean, we still talk daily. For him to give me this opportunity, I’m very grateful for it. He’s a good guy to have in your corner, and I love learning from him each day, kind of picking his brain. He’s really a wealth of knowledge, to be able to have the relationship we have. And I couldn’t be more appreciative.”