Counting Stars runs away with Fantasy

Mar 27, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Counting Stars wins the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars was counting Kentucky Oaks (G1) points after romping in Friday’s $1 million Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The 9-10 favorite once Explora was withdrawn, she ran up to expectations when drawing off by 5 1/2 lengths from her Mark Casse stablemate, Search Party.

Bob Baffert’s Explora, the even-money choice on the morning line, was forced to miss the race with a fever. Her scratch affected not only the betting, but also the Oaks points allocation. In her absence, only five fillies contested the Fantasy, and the short field triggered a points reduction to 75% of the original structure.

Thus Counting Stars earned 75 points for her victory. That was still enough to propel her into third on the leaderboard with a total of 100 points, including 25 from her runner-up effort to Explora in the March 1 Honeybee (G3).

The Honeybee proved to be the key piece of form, since the top three finishers in the Fantasy were all advancing from that final local prep. Counting Stars was beaten only three-quarters of a length in the Honeybee. Search Party had been fourth, and Taken by the Wind threw in a clunker when last. All three fared better in the Fantasy.

Casse had three entrants in the field, but his third-stringer, 41-1 longshot Empath, was there to make up the numbers. Empath also helped to carve out the early pace, giving her stablemates a target, before retreating.

Counting Stars enjoyed a perfect tracking trip under hot-riding Francisco Arrieta, who celebrated a four-win day including a stakes double. Earlier, he guided odds-on favorite Haulin Ice to victory in the Matron S.

As Empath negotiated an opening quarter in a steady :24.07, Counting Stars was perched just a length back in second. The favorite ranged alongside by the half in :48.69 and made her move entering the far turn. Taken by the Wind tried to chase, but Counting Stars spurted away after six furlongs in 1:13.68 and built up an insurmountable lead down the lane.

Counting Stars clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.47. Her resume now reads 7-4-1-0, $972,606, reflecting scores in the Astral Spa S. and Year’s End S. here in December.

🌟 COUNTING STARS put on a big performance in the G2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, picking up 75 Kentucky Oaks points! @markecasse trains the 3YO filly and Francisco Arrieta was aboard!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/iKMIZVpEUL

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 27, 2026

Search Party gamely pursued while best of the rest by 9 1/2 lengths, giving their trainer the exacta (top two). Adding 37.5 points to her ledger, she has 67.5 in all.

Taken by the Wind reported home third (18.75 points), for a total of 48.75. Sticker Shock, the 9-5 second choice in her stakes debut, failed to factor in fourth (11.25 points). Empath collected 7.5 points for completing the circuit in fifth.

Counting Stars was bred by HRH Prince Sultan bin Mishal al Saud in Kentucky. A bargain $13,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September, the bay was sold to her current connections for $150,000 as a two-year-old in training at OBS April.

By the well-bred Honor A.P., from the male line of Hall of Famer A.P, Indy, Counting Stars is the first foal from the Paynter mare Paynterbythenumbers. She hails from the immediate family of Sassy Sienna, who upset the 2018 Fantasy. Sassy Sienna went on to finish sixth in the Kentucky Oaks, and Counting Stars will try to do better than her maternal relative at Churchill Downs.