Fresh off a strong third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Counting Stars returns to the national stage Friday when she takes on four rivals in the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. She will team with champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time.

The daughter of Honor A.P. is listed at 9-2 on the morning line for the nine-furlong race, which drew a compact field featuring a rematch of the top three finishers from the Kentucky Oaks.

The Acorn is scheduled as Race 10 on Friday’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival card and will air live on the FOX network channel.

Counting Stars finished 2 1/4 lengths back in the Kentucky Oaks for trainer Mark Casse after saving ground inside and finishing willingly through the lane.

“I thought she ran extremely well,” said Casse, who won last year’s Acorn with La Cara. “I thought she had a good trip and maybe she was a little intimidated down inside. When she got out late, she started running a little bit more, but she did get to save all the ground. She got beat by two good fillies. It was a good effort.”

Casse said the rematch among the Oaks top three makes Friday’s race intriguing.

“They weren’t far apart last time, so anything is possible,” he said.

Counting Stars earned her way into the Oaks with a prominent victory in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and Casse noted that her tactical versatility remains an asset.

“She’s got some gas if nobody wants to go,” he said.