Counting Stars turned in the performance of her career Friday at Saratoga, surging past Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner in upper stretch and drawing off to a decisive 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes under Irad Ortiz Jr..
The daughter of Honor A.P. entered the Acorn off a strong third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks, where trainer Mark Casse felt she may have been intimidated racing inside before finding her best stride late. On Friday, there were no such issues. Breaking from post 2, Counting Stars secured a perfect stalking trip before Ortiz tipped her wide into the stretch and unleashed a powerful rally that quickly put the race away. She took command nearing the eighth pole and steadily widened her advantage through the lane.
Casse said, “I think Francisco [Arrieta] rode her great in the Oaks, he saved all the ground, but he couldn’t get out until late and she came running late. So Irad had watched the race and determined at the top of the lane he was going to get out. In fairness, we had a five-horse field versus [13], it makes a difference.”
The victory represented a major breakthrough for both filly and trainer. It was Counting Stars’ first Grade 1 triumph and a career-best performance against a field that included the top three finishers from the Kentucky Oaks. It also gave Casse back-to-back victories in the Acorn after capturing last year’s renewal with La Cara.
Counting Stars added a major highlight to what was already a fantastic Belmont Stakes festival for West Point, with a win earlier on the card from Pillar of Beauty at 27-to-1, following on the heels of Careless Beauty’s 10-length romp on Thursday.
Counting Stars improved to 5 wins in 9 career starts and reached millionaire status with a bankroll of $1,385,606. She will likely point for the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at a mile and a quarter at Saratoga on August 22.
David Ingordo secured the daughter of Honor A.P. and former West Point runner Paynterbynumbers for $150,000 at the 2025 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training.
