Mill Ridge Grad: COUNTING STARS Sparkles at the Spa in Her Second Grade 1 Victory
Head of the Class: Counting Stars Sensational in CCA Oaks
Thoroughbred Daily News July 25, 2025 - Author: Steve Sherack
West Point Thoroughbred's Counting Stars (Honor A. P.) left little doubt who the best 3-year-old filly in the country is with a second straight spectacular performance at the top level in Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
Sent to the front by Irad Ortiz, Jr. from her rail draw, the even-money favorite led through fractions of :23.86 and :47.60. The GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Always a Runner (Gun Runner), a well-beaten second behind Counting Stars in the GI DraftKings Acorn S. at Saratoga June 5, shot through an inviting opening at the fence beneath Jose Ortiz at the top of the stretch and the “Showdown at the Spa” was set.
Racing shoulder to shoulder and exchanging bumps as they straightened for home, Counting Stars proved best once again in this highly anticipated rubber match and powered home to win going away by 4 1/4 widening lengths over Always a Runner.
Counting Stars, a 5 1/2-length winner of the GII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Mar. 27, finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Always a Runner beneath the lights on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs before turning the tables in the Acorn.
“She's a special horse,” said winning Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who also saddled the longshot third-place finisher Measure (Essential Quality). “She is. 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.”
He continued, “She has grown up, and she just does everything. I'm very lucky because I get to compare her to another one that I have who is not bad. She reminds me a lot of (last year's champion 3-year-old filly) Nitrogen. She does things that normal horses don't do.”
Casse added that Counting Stars will target the GI Alabama S. on Aug. 22 at Saratoga.
Counting Stars was Ortiz, Jr.'s fifth of a record-tying six victories at the Spa Saturday.
“I've just had a really good day,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “A really good day. I'm enjoying it. I'm just enjoying the ride.”
Pedigree Notes:
Counting Stars, a $13,000 KEESEP yearling turned $150,000 OBSAPR breezer, is one of two graded winners for Honor A. P. She became the young sire's first Grade I winner in the Acorn.
Counting Stars is the first foal from the two-time winner Paynterbynumbers (Paynter), who brought $160,000 from Ken Copenhaver at the 2026 Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale. She made the first seven starts of her career for West Point before changing hands for $40,000 in a waiver maiden claimer.
The 10-year-old Paynterbynumbers is also represented by an Epicenter filly of 2025. Not bred for the 2026 season, she was covered by Honor A. P. for 2027.
Counting Stars's fourth dam Golden Reef (Mr. Prospector) won the 1989 GII Schuylerville S. and was also second in that term's GI Spinaway S., both at Saratoga.