HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Owner Carson McCord went to work expanding her racing stable for this year’s Oaklawn Park meet not long after last year’s season ended in May. McCord went 6 for 11 with her five-horse stable at the meet a year ago to rank among its top 10 owners. The 21-year-old is back with nine horses, including Bebop Shoes, who will vie for favoritism in Sunday’s ninth race. The money allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas drew 13. “I’ve always had a soft spot for Arkansas-breds,” McCord said. “As soon as Oaklawn ended last year, I saw him in the Form and thought he’d be really good for Oaklawn – seven or eight months from Oaklawn! “We gave time off, and it paid off. He’s a good little horse. There’s plenty of races for him to run in here. I love the Arkansas-bred program.” McCord has one of the top Arkansas-breds in training in K J’s Nobility, who is preparing to defend his title in the $150,000 Nodouble on March 27 at Oaklawn. She claimed K J’s Nobility as a teenager, with money she earned working during her high school days. :: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now. She claimed Bebop Shoes for $20,000 on May 29 at Churchill Downs. In his first start for McCord and trainer Renay Borel, Bebop Shoes was third at this allowance level Feb. 5 at Oaklawn. The six-furlong race went in a quick 1:10.53, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 69 that Bebop Shoes earned is the co-highest last-race number in the field, shared with the also-eligible Sir Brahms. David Cabrera was aboard Bebop Shoes and has the mount again from post 9. The chief threats include Captain Don, who last year was second in the $100,000 Rainbow for Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn, and Chicken Hawk, who in his last start was third in a $30,000 claiming race Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds. McCord is a business major at Chapman University in Southern California. The pandemic has led to her courses being taught online, and she is able to “attend” from her home in Hot Springs. She was born and raised near Oaklawn. “I miss the interaction at school, but, thankfully, I get to stay here and see all my horses run,” she said. During the offseason, McCord acquired her new horses through either the claim box or private sales and has split them up among trainers Borel, Robertino Diodoro, Wes Hawley, and Ron Moquett. She also ventured into the breeding side of the industry. “I have some mares in foal,” she said. “I’ll have some new [racing age] horses in three years or so.” McCord said they would be part of the lucrative Arkansas-bred program. The purse for the race Bebop Shoes runs in Sunday is $88,000. McCord’s runners earned $285,524 in 2020, not counting a winner she had in partnership. Her first trip to the winner’s circle this meet came Feb. 25, with Cabot. Earlier this year, she had a winner at Delta Downs.