The rubber match between Counting Stars and Always a Runner in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 25 at Saratoga Race Course was on full display as the field approached the top of the stretch, but the Acorn Stakes (G1) winner pulled away from the Kentucky Oaks (G1) victress through the lane for a decisive 4 1/4-length victory.
Counting Stars led throughout, reeling off fractions of :23.86, :47.60, 1:11.55, and 1:36.14 before finishing up the 1 1/8-mile race on a fast track in 1:48.98. Always a Runner had found a seam on the inside of Counting Stars heading into the stretch and the two battled through the lane. However, Counting Stars proved too much for her rival inside the final eighth of a mile and pulled away for a relatively easy victory.
Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who won his fifth race of the day, Counting Stars paid $4.08 as the even-money favorite. Always a Runner was second and Measure ran third.
Counting Stars, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and bred by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, is now 6-1-1 in 10 career starts, with earnings of more than $1.5 million.
This story will be updated.
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