Counting Stars Dazzles in G1 at Saratoga Springs

By Mary Eddy

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The race for divisional supremacy among sophomore fillies was still up for discussion between Grade 1 DraftKings Acorn-winner Counting Stars and Kentucky Oaks-winner Always a Runner ahead of Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, but Counting Stars put that argument to rest when soundly defeating her familiar foe for the second time this year in the nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Counting Stars in the Acorn, and climbed aboard the daughter of Honor A.P. again in the Coaching Club American Oaks to land his fifth of a record-equaling six wins on Saturday’s card, joining Hall of Fame riders Ramon Dominguez and John Velazquez as the only jockeys to have won six races in one day at the Spa.

Ortiz, Jr., who is represented by agent Steve Rushing, said it is an honor to share the record with two of the sport’s top riders of all-time.

“They’re the greatest – they are GOATs,” said Ortiz, Jr., who missed the first six days of the meet due to suspensions and is quickly climbing the meet riding standings. “I can’t be more happier than what I am right now. I’m so happy for all the opportunities that have been given to me. Nothing would be possible without the help I’ve been getting since Day One. I have to appreciate the trainers and the owners and especially my agent for the hard work and their support, they’ve been there for me all the time.”

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse for West Point Thoroughbreds, Counting Stars was an authoritative winner of the Acorn last out over course and distance on June 5 with a 3 3/4-length score over Always a Runner, and was just as dominant on Saturday as she shrugged off the challenge and drove home a 4 1/4-length winner. The CCA Oaks served as a rubber match between the two fillies as they had each beaten the other once, with Counting Stars landing third in the Kentucky Oaks ahead of their first rematch in the Acorn.

“She’s a special horse. She is,” Casse said. “It was great for racing to see the two of them go at it. We said all along this week that this was round three, the rubber match. So, that’s what happened. Luckily, we ended up on the right side of it.”
Counting Stars emerged sharply from the inside post and took advantage of that draw to zip up the rail and mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.86 seconds over the fast footing, taking up the role of pacesetter after the scratches of expected speed influences Directive and La Rascasse. Jose Ortiz rushed Always a Runner up into contention in the early stages and angled in from post 5 to race along the inside in the second flight in tandem with beaten Kentucky Oaks favorite Zany to her outside.

The beat went on for Counting Stars up front as she reached the half-mile in 47.60 and three-quarters in 1:11.55 before Zany came under a ride and Always a Runner was right on the pacesetter’s heels and waiting for the right moment to make her bid up the inside. The Casse-trained Measure was swung three-wide from fourth position exiting the turn and Zany spun her wheels, but Always a Runner was turned loose to make her run at her familiar rival.

It was a match race from the top of the stretch on as the two fillies battled it out, and it appeared Always a Runner would pull ahead at the eighth pole as she briefly stuck her head in front, but Counting Stars found more under urging from Ortiz, Jr. and would not be denied, pulling away in the final sixteenth to gallop home an easy winner in a final time of 1:48.98.