SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mark Casse slayed another favorite in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes. One year after sending out La Cara to a 7-1 upset over 1-5 favorite and undefeated Good Cheer in the Acorn, Casse did it again, this time with Counting Stars, who blew by undefeated Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner in midstretch on her way to a 3 3/4-length victory in Friday’s $500,000 Acorn. Always a Runner, the 4-5 favorite, finished two lengths in front of Meaning, who was followed by Prom Queen and Maximum Offer. “I’m liking this. This is nice,” Casse said of pulling a second straight Acorn upset.  Counting Stars finished third to Always a Runner in the Kentucky Oaks, bottled up on the inside and showing some late interest when Franciso Arietta was able to get her into the clear. In the Acorn, Casse turned to five-time Eclipse Award winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. In a five-horse field without any speed, Ortiz and Casse thought Counting Stars could be on the lead.  But Maximum Offer, the longest price in the field, went to the front under Florent Geroux and set fractions of 23.41 seconds for the quarter-mile, 47.73 for the half-mile, and 1:11.51 for six furlongs with Meaning stalking from the two path. Counting Stars was inside of Always a Runner, ridden by Jose Ortiz. :: DRF Belmont Stakes Packages: Save big on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. When Meaning, under Juan Hernandez, made her move toward the front, Jose Ortiz followed on Always a Runner. Irad Ortiz waited for Always a Runner to clear him and then moved Counting Stars four-wide approaching the quarter pole. In upper stretch, Always a Runner wrested the lead from Meaning, but Counting Stars was unleashed, raced about seven wide, took command at the eighth pole, and drew clear.  “She sat behind the speed and she switched off really, really nice,” Ortiz said. “I had [Always a Runner] outside of me, there’s nothing I can do about that. I waited til they started moving. . . . When [Always a Runner] jumped on Meaning, I had a chance to hit the clear, and when I hit the clear, she turned on.”  Counting Stars, a daughter of Honor A.P. owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85 and returned $11.44 as the fourth choice in the five-horse field.  “She doesn’t usually like to be down inside,” Casse said. “Francisco rode her great in the [Kentucky] Oaks, he saved all the ground, but he couldn’t get out until late, and she came running. Irad had watched the race. I think he had determined at the top of the lane he was going to get out. Of course, in fairness, we had a five-horse field today instead of 14. It makes a difference.” Chad Brown, the trainer of Always a Runner, said his filly got the trip he was looking for in the Acorn, but she was just second best. “The winner won pretty comfortably today. I thought I got a good trip. Maybe my filly was still feeling the Oaks a little bit and wasn’t quite at her best today, so we’ll regroup,” Brown said. “Hats off to the winner.” Counting Stars galloped out more than 20 lengths in front of the field, an indication perhaps that she will want more distance, like the 1 1/4 miles of the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 22.  “She can go forever,” said Casse, who won the 2025 Alabama with Nitrogen. Casse didn’t rule out a run in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25.  “Maybe, we’ll see,” Casse said. “You know me, I like running.” :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Betting Strategies by Mike Beer and David Aragona feature exclusive wager recommendations!