Presented with a prime-time stage Friday night, Counting Stars ran well with a mostly inside trip in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing third at 6.5-to-1 odds, beaten about 2 lengths.
She raced most of the way in fourth and surged in the final few jumps to secure the Grade 1, classic placing.
Jockey Francisco Arrieta said “She broke well. I had a couple of horses covering me and I sat just behind them. I tried to make a move but the gap closed so I had to wait a little longer.”
Trainer Mark Casse said “I am very proud of her and I thought Francisco gave her a great ride.”
Shifted to a night race for the first time, Oaks was contested in beautiful, sunsetting conditions and aired live in the 8 to 9 p.m. hour on NBC’s main channel. Churchill reported a crowd of 103,290.
