Taking the Winning Shot – Ogdensburg native Kinnon LaRose picks up his first Saratoga Race Course career win after taking over Tom Amoss’ stable in March

Basketball and Thoroughbred racing share one important trait: success often comes from taking a shot.

Kinnon LaRose is someone who knows that.

Following a Division I college basketball career, the 28-year-old Ogdensburg native took a chance in becoming a Thoroughbred trainer, and it is already paying off.

Since taking over Tom Amoss’ horses in March, LaRose had 12 winners from 76 starters prior to July 5 when he brought 23 horses to Saratoga Race Course – a place where childhood family trips first fueled his interest in racing.

LaRose earned his first Saratoga winner on Saturday as Midnight Still, a 2-year-old colt making his second career start, stalked the pace, then took command inside the sixteenth pole and drew away by 6¼ lengths.

“It means world to me. It was awesome,” he said. “I grew up coming here as a kid. I never really dreamed that I’d be in this position. I couldn’t be more appreciative to Tom Amoss for giving me this opportunity and all the owners for sticking with me. We’re still learning and still trying to figure it all out. Hopefully, we’re heading in the right direction.”

LaRose’s direction in racing began as a child when his family, including his father Steve, regularly crossed the St. Lawrence River to visit Rideau Carlton Raceway and Woodbine Mohawk Park.

“They always loved their races,” he said. “We grew up going to the harness tracks, then every summer, we would come down to Saratoga. I always loved coming to Saratoga and I couldn’t wait for the trip to come. This has been with my family for a long time with the handicapping, watching the races, and enjoying it that way.”

When he wasn’t going to harness tracks or Saratoga, LaRose developed as one of the top basketball players in New York. At Ogdensburg Free Academy, he scored 1,769 points, including 756 points during his senior year that placed him on the all-state first team.

From there, LaRose spent a season at Siena University before transferring to Sacred Heart for his last two seasons where he was a captain. Despite focusing on basketball and his sports management studies, he still made time for Saratoga during the summer when racing was on the television every day in the off-campus housing with his teammates.

“I followed it all through high school and in college, too,” he said. “When we weren’t playing during summertime, Saratoga was on in my house. They were like, ‘Why are we watching the races?’ I loved it.”

After earning a master’s degree in strategic communication and public during the COVID-19 pandemic, faced an uncertain future and wasn’t sure if basketball remained an option.

“I thought I was going to play for four years and try to keep playing basketball as long as I could,” he said. “I was in limbo whether to keep playing or not after college.”

While searching for work, LaRose followed Amoss on NYRA-TV and Fox Sports, impressed by his knowledge and expertise. He also found common ground with Amoss: both developed a passion for racing at a young age and both studied marketing and communications at college. Unlike LaRose, Amoss gained experience as a teenage stablehand for Hall of Fame trainer Jack VanBerg.

LaRose then took his shot by sending an email to Amoss about working for him. Amoss got back to him promptly.

“This opportunity kind of presented itself,” LaRose said. “I reached out to Tom, and he called me back the next day. I said, ‘I’m going to try pursuing this. Let’s go see what happens.’”

Amoss invited LaRose to join his operation for the 2020 Keeneland fall meet, starting him with demanding tasks such as cleaning stalls and hotwalking horses. It was a test that LaRose passed.

“I put him through six months of hell to see if he could handle it,” Amoss said. “He kept coming back for more with the thirst to learn. I knew he was special. At that point, I took him under my wing and said, ‘I’m going to get you where you want to be.’”

LaRose later became Amoss’ assistant before taking over the stable after this retirement. While LaRose handles the day-to-day operations, Amoss is still there for advice.

“I’m not out here every morning, but Kinnon and I talk every day,” Amoss said. “We go over his plans with horses, and I can recall I was well schooled when I first started training, but there are some things that you wouldn’t mind having advice on. He’s not afraid to ask, and I’m always there for him.”

Amoss is proud of LaRose’s accomplishments over the last four months, especially after Midnight Still’s victory. Amoss helped Double Down Racing purchase the colt for $350,000 at the Keeneland yearling sales in September.

“Talk about a kid coming full circle,” Amoss said. “I’m really proud of him. I’ll get the assist. I bought this horse as a yearling, but Kinnon did all the heavy lifting.”

Besides Midnight Still, LaRose trains Stress Relief, a five-length winner in her debut at Churchill Downs last month now targeting the Grade 3 Adirondack Stakes on Aug. 3, and It’s Our Time, who broke his maiden by 17¾ lengths at Saratoga last August.

More than six years after being a captain at Sacred Heart, LaRose still applies the teamwork philosophy to managing his stable.

“I certainly had that responsibility of trying to get people to perform at their best,” he said. “I try to take that same approach. I’m showing up to work every day, learning from different people, learning what their different skill sets are, and trying to get the best out of them.”

Now that LaRose has that winning experience as a former high school and college basketball player and as a trainer, he has a preference.

“Now that being on this side is for sure,” he said about being in the Saratoga Race Course Winner’s Circle for the first time. “We’re happy to be here.”