Counting Stars Won the Duel of the Year and Rose to the Top Among the Fillies
- Turf Diario
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The Mark Casse trainee defeated Always a Runner with authority in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), taking a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head series and seizing control of the race for the Eclipse Award
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- A Big-fight atmosphere filled the air long before the starting gates opened. Counting Stars and Always a Runner (Gun Runner) arrived deadlocked after splitting the first two installments of a rivalry already shaping up as one of the best of the season among North America's 3-year-old fillies. The Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) promised to break the tie, and it delivered precisely that: a top-class spectacle.
In front of a crowd of 31,154 fans packing Saratoga, the two leading stars of the moment locked horns in a thrilling stretch duel before the West Point Thoroughbreds representative, trained by Mark Casse, found another gear to draw away to a 4 1/4-length victory, firmly establishing herself as the leader of the division.
Having finished third behind Always a Runner in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) before exacting revenge in the Acorn Stakes (G1), Counting Stars won the third chapter of the series with a performance that puts her on a direct course for the Eclipse Award as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
"It was fantastic for racing to see them go at it again," said Casse, who watched much of the race on a screen in the winner's circle before sprinting to the rail to witness the outcome up close.
"We said all week that this was round three, the rubber match. And that's what it was. Fortunately, it went our way."
The scratches of La Rascasse (Authentic) and Directive (Gun Runner) completely changed the expected pace scenario, leaving the field without a natural pacemaker. Casse was quick to read the situation and decided to reuse a tactic that had yielded rich rewards weeks earlier with Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro).
"I told Irad the same thing I told José when he won on Nitrogen: 'Let's go to the front. If we're the best, let them come and get us,'" he explained.
The plan worked to perfection. From the gate, Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Counting Stars to the lead, setting fractions of 23s86/100, 47s60/100, and 1m11s55/100 for the opening six furlongs, controlling the tempo throughout.
Meanwhile, José Ortiz settled Always a Runner along the rail, waiting for the right moment to launch his bid. That moment came turning for home. The Kentucky Oaks winner ranged up on the inside, drew level, and even briefly put a nose in front amidst light contact between the pair.
"For a second I thought, 'No, you're better than this,'" Casse admitted. "Irad told me he waited until José got alongside before asking her for her effort. She hesitated for a split second, so he called on her again. The response was incredible."
Indeed it was. The moment she received the final cue from her jockey, Counting Stars shifted gears once more and began to pull away with supreme authority, stopping the clock in 1m48s98/100 and leaving her great rival with no answer.
"I wanted to wait a bit longer before asking her for everything. When I felt Always a Runner right next to us, I told her it was time. She responded exactly as I expected," explained Irad, who secured his fifth victory of the card.
From trainer Chad Brown's perspective, the defeat came with tactical nuances: "It wasn't the race we envisioned. Spending almost the entire trip along the rail didn't favor us because the inside wasn't the best part of the track all afternoon. Either way, the winner ran brilliantly, and Irad rode a masterpiece," the trainer acknowledged.
The celebration was made even sweeter for Casse by the excellent third-place finish of Measure (Essential Quality), who was making her stakes debut and confirmed the high regard her trainer holds her in.
"We've always believed a lot in this filly. She just needed more distance. I'm very proud of what she did," he noted.
Both Counting Stars and Measure will now target the Alabama Stakes (G1), a race Casse won last season with Nitrogen, the eventual division champion.
It was precisely to Nitrogen that he offered his highest praise when evaluating his new star.
"She keeps doing things normal horses don't do. She reminds me so much of Nitrogen."
A daughter of Honor A. P. purchased for just $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Counting Stars boosted her record to 6 wins, 1 second, and 1 third from 10 starts, bringing her earnings to $1,660,606.
By emerging victorious in the long-awaited tiebreaker against Always a Runner, the Mark Casse trainee not only took control of the season's most compelling rivalry, but also left the impression that she is still improving. For her rivals looking ahead to the Alabama and the Eclipse Award, that may be the most terrifying news of all.
