Stress Relief gives trainer LaRose first graded triumph with Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Stress Relief won her career debut at Churchill Downs on June 20, owner Joel Politi told trainer Kinnon LaRose he “can’t wait for the Adirondack,” referring to the second of three stakes for 2-year-old fillies offered at the Saratoga summer meet.

While plans in racing often go awry, this one didn’t, as Stress Relief rallied by pacesetting Luminous Beauty and drew away to a solid 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $225,000 Adirondack Stakes. Luminous Beauty held second by a neck over Scarlett Begonia. Bandmaster finished fourth and was followed by Prime Aurora, Pierette and Washton. Caroline’s Girl, who pressed the pace, was eased. Almighty One was pulled up down the backstretch and vanned off.

“For us to be able to get here and for everything to go right, we got lucky,” LaRose said. “She’s a classy filly, she ran a great race, Junior [Alvarado] rode her perfectly and we're just very happy.”

Adding to the happiness was that the Adirondack was the first graded stakes victory for LaRose, who, after working as an assistant to Tom Amoss for six years, took over the training duties for the stable earlier this spring.

“No better place to do it,” LaRose said. “I wish Joel Politi was here with his family, but my wife is here, my mom and dad, and my brothers are here. … It’s a special place, I grew up coming here as a kid and I never thought I would be in this position.”

LaRose grew up in Ogdensburg, N.Y., about four hours north of Saratoga near the Canadian border.

Stress Relief, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Not This Time, won her debut going five furlongs at Churchill Downs in pacepressing fashion. On Sunday, she broke a little, got bumped twice, and had to come from a little farther off the pace.

Luminous Beauty and Caroline’s Girl were a half-length apart through fractions of 21.99 seconds for the quarter and 45.40 for the half-mile. Caroline’s Girl faded - and was ultimately eased - and Luminous Beauty kept on going. But Stress Relief, in grinding fashion, caught, passed and drew away from Luminous Beauty in the final sixteenth.

“I was very pleased with her, she stepped up in company against horses that have probably been running more than her and she was up to the task today,” Alvarado said. “She was up close to the pace and when I asked her she was there for me, finished up very nice.”

Stress Relief covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.45 and returned $14.22. She will be considered for the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 5, LaRose said.

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