Two decades ago, a young Kinnon LaRose had no expectation that he was one day destined to be part of the Thoroughbred racing industry, yet he still enjoyed his family trips to Saratoga Race Course. That's what made Aug. 2 even more special as the Ogdensburg, N.Y., native, surrounded by friends and family, earned his first graded stakes victory with Stress Relief in the $225,000 Adirondack Stakes (G3) at the very track he grew up attending.
"No better place to do it," the 29-year-old LaRose said. "It's a special place. I grew up coming here as a kid and never thought I'd be in this position. I'm just very grateful."
After six years working as an assistant for Tom Amoss, LaRose took over the training operation April 1 upon his mentor's retirement. It was around that time that Stress Relief, a homebred for Joel Politi, joined the operation's Keeneland string after receiving her initial training at Highlander Training Center near Sulphur Springs, Texas.
READ: Amoss Handing Off Trainer Duties to LaRose at Keeneland
"She's been very straightforward since day one," LaRose said. "Once we started taking her to the gate, that's when the lightbulb turned on for her. We knew we had something good."
LaRose unveiled the Not This Time filly June 20 at Churchill Downs with a dominant front-end win by 5 lengths. In the winner's circle, Politi turned to LaRose and immediately told him, "I can't wait for the Adirondack."
"For us to be able to get here and everything go right, we got lucky," LaRose said. "She's a classy filly."
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Junior Alvarado took the irons for the first time aboard the filly in a race Sunday, but had taken the chance to get to know her during her final 4-furlong work July 25. That allowed him, LaRose, and Politi to feel confident about rating her from post 8 of nine. She settled in fourth, 2 lengths off the lead as Luminous Beauty and Jose Morelos set fractions of :21.99 and :45.40.
Stress Relief stayed relaxed, and when Alvarado asked her for run turning for home, she was full of it. Luminous Beauty battled on, but Stress Relief went by with a furlong to go and drew off for a 3 1/2-length win, Alvarado wrapping up inside the final 16th. She completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.45, paying $14.22 to win. Luminous Beauty held second by a neck over Scarlett Begonia.
"She was close enough, but she was doing it nicely and easily," Alvarado said. "If I would ask her to be more forward, she would. But I felt like where I was, I was perfect. Just enough to have horse at the end. She just delivered today."
The second foal and first to race out of the Ghostzapper dual stakes-winning mare Littlestitious, Stress Relief looks like a filly with a bright future. LaRose said that he will wait and see how she exits the race and talks with Politi, but that the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) Sept. 5 at Saratoga could be a possible next start at 7 furlongs. Both LaRose and Alvarado expressed confidence she'll be able to handle added ground.
Stress Relief becomes the 11th graded winner this year for leading sire Not This Time, who stood the 2026 season at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky., for a $250,000 fee.
Almighty One was pulled up when Manny Franco felt she was not traveling well near the 9/16ths pole. The filly was provided a precautionary ride back to the barn area in the equine ambulance.
