10/1/26 Barn Notes
Compiled by Robert Yates
Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Counting Stars (#2) is scheduled to face older horses for the first time in the $650,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, Sunday at Keeneland.
Probable post time for the Spinster, the ninth of 10 races, is 4:45 p.m. (Central). The 1 1/8-mile Spinster is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Counting Stars is a leading candidate for an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2026.
After going through Oaklawn’s three-race Kentucky Oaks prep series, highlighted by a victory in the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 27, Counting Stars moved to the top of the division after winning the Acorn Stakes (G1) June 5 and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 25. Both 1 1/8-mile races were at Saratoga.
Counting Stars looks to rebound from a third-place finish in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 22 at Saratoga. Alabama winner My Gun’s Loaded made her career debut Dec. 27 at Oaklawn. A half-hour later – the 10-race card was exclusively for 2-year-olds – Counting Stars won the $150,000 Year’s End Stakes in her two-turn debut. Counting Stars also won the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes Dec. 14 at Oaklawn.
Five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Counting Stars in the Spinster, which drew five entrants, including Oaklawn-raced Regaled (#1). Counting Stars will carry 121 pounds, 4 less than her older rivals.
Regaled (#4, 7/2) is also entered in the weather-delayed Delaware Handicap (G3) Saturday at Delaware Park.
Oaklawn-raced horses are entered in three other Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events this weekend at Keeneland.
Oaklawn stakes winners Mad House (#1, 10/1) and Booth (#2, 6/1), Oaklawn debut and allowance winner Hymn (#8, 4/1) and Oaklawn maiden special weight winner Viking (#6, 8/1) are entered in Friday’s Phoenix Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs. The Phoenix is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Sprint (G1).
Oaklawn stakes winners Jersey Pearl (#2, 15/1), Queen’s Martini (#3, 30/1) and Zeitlos (#5, 6/1) and Oaklawn-raced Praying (#1, 12/1) and Evanescence (#4, 4/1) are entered in Saturday’s Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 6 ½ furlongs. The TCA is a “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Oaklawn maiden special and allowance winner Kupuna (#8, 15/1) is entered in Saturday’s Turf Mile (G1). It is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Mile (G1).
The Sprint, Filly & Mare Sprint and Mile are Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Finish Lines
Millionaire Oaklawn-raced Tawny Port (#7, 6/1) is entered in the Canadian International Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles on the turf Saturday at Woodbine. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Nerazurri (#8, 6/1), Oaklawn allowance winners Miss Authentic (#11, 10/1) and Kinzie Queen (#2, 20/1) and Oaklawn-raced Take Charge Omaha (#10, 10/1) are entered in the Delaware Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Delaware Park. … Millionaire Oaklawn allowance winner Bendoog (#5, 9/5 program favorite) and Oaklawn starter-allowance winner Cooke Creek (#4, 8/1) are entered in the Battery Park Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Delaware Park. The Delaware Handicap and Battery Park Stakes were postponed from Sept. 26 because of heavy rain. … Oaklawn-raced Amalfi Drive (#1) and Dazzling Move (#3) are entered in the Twixt Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 1 mile Saturday at Laurel. … Jockey Ramon Vazquez, Oaklawn’s leading rider last season, enters Thursday with 3,995 career North American victories (United States and Puerto Rico), according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Vazquez is now based at Remington Park. He has 548 career victories at Oaklawn.
