5/2/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Kinnon LaRose’s training career is off to a rousing start.
A little less than a month after starting his first horse, LaRose recorded his first double on a single card Friday at Oaklawn. LaRose won the first race with favored Batter Up ($6) and the 10th race with favored Carbone ($6.60). Both horses were ridden by Rafael Bejarano.
The double pushed LaRose’s overall record to 8 for 29, a sparkling 28 percent strike rate. LaRose, 28, has taken over retired trainer Tom Amoss’ stable after serving as his top assistant for several years.
“I think I’ve exceeded my expectations, for sure,” LaRose said following Carbone’s victory. “Tom has been so supportive. I’ve got a great staff around me and just try to do things right and, hopefully, it all works out.”
LaRose started his first horse (My Noble Knight) April 2 at Oaklawn. His first victory was April 10 at Keeneland with Arthur Jr. LaRose notched his first Oaklawn victory April 16 with Hello Angel and his first stakes victory about nine hours later at Lone Star Park with Modo in the $81,000 Bluebonnet for Texas-bred fillies and mares.
Carbone’s victory in the $126,000 allowance sprint represented the most lucrative to date for LaRose. Carbone was making his third start since Amoss, on behalf of 8:38 Racing (Dan Ducote and Tim Keeley), claimed the 5-year-old son of sprint champion Mitole for $50,000 out of a Feb. 5 victory at Oaklawn.
“They’re good people,” LaRose said, referring to Ducote and Keeley. “One lives in Louisiana, the other lives in Texas. So, they drove up for the race.”
Carbone is only the third horse for Ducote and Keeley under the 8:38 Racing banner, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Amoss claimed the first, Liuzza, for $32,000 in May 2025 at Churchill Downs. Liuzza returned to beat $40,000 claimers in September 2025 at Churchill Downs.
LaRose said 8:38 Racing tapped Amoss after the first trainer it was encouraged to call didn’t answer the phone.
“They called Tom five minutes later and Tom picked up the phone and we got a horse for them,” LaRose said. “Crazy how it works.”
Carbone marked the final starter this season at Oaklawn for LaRose, who won 4 of 21 starts at the meeting. LaRose said he has 28 horses at Churchill Downs and eight horses at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center. LaRose said he also has 32 stalls at Keeneland.
LaRose said he plans to return to Oaklawn for the 2026-2027 meeting that is scheduled to run Nov. 27-May 1, pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission. Amoss brought approximately 20 horses this season to Oaklawn.
“I actually just talked to (racing secretary) Pat Pope,” LaRose said. “I just thanked him for everything and said we’ll be back.”
LaRose’s horses were primarily overseen at Oaklawn by Melissa Short-Lopez, who previously worked for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and trainer Lindsay Schultz.
Bejarano Shines
Jockey Rafael Bejarano rode three winners Friday, including the 200th of his Oaklawn career, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
Bejarano won the first race aboard favored Batter Up ($6) for trainer Kinnon LaRose, seventh race aboard Mumayaz ($11.80) for trainer Ron Moquett and the 10th race aboard favored Carbone ($6.60) for LaRose.
The triple pushed Bejarano’s season total to 47. Bejarano ranks fourth in the standings heading into Saturday’s closing-day program. Bejarano credited his agent, Julio Espinoza, for the success. Espinoza represents Bejarano in Kentucky but had not booked mounts for the jockey at previous Oaklawn meetings.
“I haven’t ridden as many horses as last year, but I have been riding some good horses,” Bejarano said. “My agent, who has been with me in Kentucky, came to Oaklawn and he’s done a very good job. It’s been a good meet.”
Bejarano has two stakes victories at the meeting, both for trainer Randy Morse. Bejarano won the $135,000 Silks Overnight Dec. 19 aboard Dreaminblue and the $150,000 Rainbow April 4 aboard Seventies Music.
Finish Lines
Trainer Ron Moquett moved into a second-place tie in the standings with Mumayaz’s victory in Friday’s seventh race. Mumayaz ($11.80) represented Moquett’s 23rd victory at the meeting and 398th overall. Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse finished 2025-2026 with 23 victories. Moquett is the seventh-winningest trainer in Oaklawn history. … Amir Mendoza, Oaklawn’s champion apprentice jockey this season, won two races Friday. Mendoza won the third race aboard favored Woodcourt ($5.20) for trainer Cipriano Contreas and the sixth race aboard Pike Place ($23.40) for trainer Tom Van Berg. The double moved Mendoza into a sixth-place tie in the standings with 34 victories. … Trainer Brett Creighton and owner Danny Keene teamed for two victories Friday. They won the fourth race with Max Got Excited ($22.20) and the fifth race with Eminent Cat ($10.80). Max Got Excited won the $175,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters last year at Oaklawn. … Trainer Aaron West recorded his first career Oaklawn victory in Friday’s 12th race with favored Cuda Cutie ($5), who won a first-level Arkansas-bred sprint for fillies and mares, 3 and up, by 8 ¼ front-running lengths under Emmanuel Esquivel. Cuda Cutie was exiting a runner-up finish in the $150,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for accredited Arkansas-bred 3-year-old filly sprinters April 3.
