Counting Stars shone at Saratoga and dethroned Always a Runner in the Acorn

The daughter of Honor A. P. made a massive leap in quality to capture the G1 and alter the map among 3-year-old fillies in the United States

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special to Turf Diario).– She had finished third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), just over two lengths behind the undefeated Always a Runner (Gun Runner), and many considered her a good filly, though still a step below the best of her generation. However, this Friday at Saratoga she showed a completely different version of herself. Stronger, more mature, and much more devastating.

With an outstanding performance, Counting Stars captured the Acorn Stakes (G1-1800 m, dirt), defeating the favorite and Churchill Downs champion with absolute authority to throw herself right into the conversation for leadership of the 3-year-old filly division in the United States.

The representative of West Point Thoroughbreds, trained by Mark Casse, prevailed by a wide 3 3/4 lengths over Always a Runner, who thus suffered the first defeat of her career after three consecutive victories, including the Oaks.

"Mark is not a person who usually hypes his horses, but this week I noticed him very confident," commented Terry Finley, president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. "Everyone at the stable felt different. I watched her train the last few days and I had never seen her better. She had gained muscle and looked spectacular. I thought she would run well, but I never imagined something like this."

The history between Casse and Counting Stars went back much further. The Canadian trainer was already speaking wonders of the daughter of Honor A. P. when she was just a 2-year-old, and time ended up proving him right.

After winning her debut at Churchill Downs last September, the filly faced exclusively stakes events in her next 8 presentations. Among them, the dominant 5 1/2-length victory in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) stood out, a result that anticipated she could transform into a top-level protagonist.

In the Acorn, with only 5 participants on the track, the running style turned out much more favorable than the one she had faced in the Kentucky Oaks. While Maximum Offer (Maxfield) and Meaning (Gun Runner) took charge of setting the pace, Counting Stars settled third, with Always a Runner following her closely.

Upon entering the home straight, Meaning momentarily took command after leaving Maximum Offer behind, but immediately the two main candidates appeared. What seemed like a duel between the winner and the runner-up of the Oaks ended up being a single-filly exhibition.

Masterfully ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Counting Stars accelerated with immense power in the final 300 meters, left Always a Runner behind with ease, and escaped toward a victory that was never in question. The clock stopped at an excellent 1m48s85/100 for the 1800 meters.

"She showed a lot of maturity," Casse explained. "Normally she doesn't like to run on the inside, and in the Oaks she was boxed in for a large part of the journey. Irad watched that race and was determined to find room this time. It is also true that running against 4 rivals is very different than doing so against 13."

The winner, bred in Kentucky by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, was acquired for just 150,000 dollars at the 2025 Ocala sales and has now elevated her earnings to US$ 1,385,606, with five triumphs in nine outings.

The success also held a special value for Honor A. P., as Counting Stars became his first G1 winner as a stallion.

For Always a Runner, meanwhile, there were no reproaches. Chad Brown's pupil had an ideal trip and simply found a superior rival.

"She had a perfect race," Brown admitted. "The winner was impressive. She passed her very easily and won comfortably. Today she was better than us."

Now the path for Counting Stars seems to lead toward another major objective at Saratoga: the prestigious Alabama Stakes (G1), where she will seek to confirm that what happened in the Acorn was not a surprise, but the definitive consolidation of a star that has just burst with strength into the elite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVLLchaehDg