The landscape of the three-year-old filly division shifted significantly on the eve of one of Saratoga Race Course’s most prestigious events as trainer Will Walden confirmed that the undefeated La Rascasse will no longer compete in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. The announcement, which came following a minor training setback, removes one of the most intriguing "wild card" entries from the $500,000 feature race. Walden indicated that the decision was made in the best interest of the horse’s long-term health, opting to scratch the daughter of Authentic and provide her with a period of rest and recovery at the farm.
La Rascasse had been a source of significant backstretch "buzz" leading up to the Saratoga summer meet. Her withdrawal reduces the field to eight runners and alters the wagering dynamics of a race that serves as the second leg of the prestigious Triple Tiara. While the spotlight remains on the rubber match between divisional leaders Always a Runner and Counting Stars, the absence of an undefeated, record-setting challenger like La Rascasse leaves fans and analysts wondering what might have been for the ascending star.
The Rapid Ascent of La Rascasse
La Rascasse entered the Coaching Club American Oaks (CCA Oaks) with a perfect two-for-two record, having displayed a rare combination of raw speed and stamina in her brief career. A $750,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale, the filly carries the high expectations associated with her pedigree and price tag. She is a daughter of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic, out of the Candy Ride mare Hallawallah, representing a blend of elite classic speed and route-running capability.
Her career began with a gritty performance on April 11 at Keeneland, where she broke her maiden by a head in a seven-furlong sprint. While many young horses struggle when asked to transition from sprinting to middle-distance racing, La Rascasse flourished in her sophomore debut. On June 13 at Churchill Downs, she contested the Monomoy Girl Stakes, her first attempt at two turns. She didn’t just win; she dominated, crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear of her rivals.
Perhaps more impressive than the margin of victory was the clocking. La Rascasse stopped the timer in :1:43.13 for the 1 1/16-mile distance, establishing a new stakes record for the Monomoy Girl. That performance signaled to the racing world that she was ready for the elite company found in Saratoga’s Grade 1 events. Her career earnings currently stand at $168,183 for owners Resolute Racing and MyRacehorse, the latter of which provides micro-share ownership to thousands of racing enthusiasts.
A Strategic Withdrawal and Trainer Perspective
Trainer Will Walden, an emerging talent in the training ranks, has been noted for his patient approach with high-value bloodstock. The decision to scratch a horse from a Grade 1 opportunity at Saratoga is never easy, but Walden emphasized that the filly’s future remains the priority. Training setbacks, ranging from minor hoof issues to muscle soreness, are common in high-performance thoroughbreds, particularly during the transition to the demanding Saratoga main track.
"We’re going to do right by the horse," Walden noted regarding the decision to send her to the farm for a break. By bypassing the CCA Oaks, the stable avoids the risk of aggravating a minor issue into a career-threatening injury. This conservative management is often rewarded in the filly division, where a healthy horse can return for late-season targets like the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx or the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November.
The scratch also impacts jockey Axel Concepcion, who was slated to ride the filly from post 3. La Rascasse had been assigned 8-1 odds on the morning line, a price that reflected both her talent and the respect oddsmakers held for her record-breaking speed figures, despite her lack of previous Grade 1 experience.
The Rivalry Rekindled: Always a Runner vs. Counting Stars
With La Rascasse out of the lineup, the 109th running of the Coaching Club American Oaks becomes a definitive showdown between the two titans of the division: Always a Runner and Counting Stars. The two fillies have traded blows throughout the spring and early summer, establishing a rivalry that has become the focal point of the 2026 racing season.
Always a Runner, trained by four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, entered the year as the "queen" of the division after a commanding victory in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 1. In that race, the daughter of Gun Runner utilized her tactical speed to hold off all challengers, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Counting Stars, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, finished a respectable third in that encounter, appearing to need more distance to find her best stride.
The tables turned on June 5 in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga. In a reversal of fortune, Counting Stars found the Saratoga surface much to her liking. She drew off in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths, while Always a Runner had to settle for the runner-up spot. Saturday’s race at 1 1/8 miles (nine furlongs) serves as the tiebreaker.
Always a Runner remains the slight morning-line favorite at 9-5, with Counting Stars close behind at 2-1. The extra half-furlong of the CCA Oaks compared to the Acorn is expected to benefit Counting Stars, who is a daughter of the late Honor A. P., a sire known for producing horses that improve with added distance.
Analyzing the Remaining Contenders
While the "Big Two" dominate the headlines, the withdrawal of La Rascasse opens the door for other sophisticated fillies to pull off an upset. The remaining field of eight includes several runners with the pedigree and form to capitalize on any tactical errors by the favorites.
- Zany (9-2): Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stable, Zany is a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. After a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks, Pletcher has given her time to regroup. She has been training forwardly at Saratoga and represents the "spoiler" in the race.
- Directive (6-1): Another Chad Brown trainee, Directive enters the race off a massive performance in an allowance optional claiming race at Saratoga on June 4. She earned a 119 speed figure in that effort, the highest in the field. If she can replicate that form in stakes company, she is a major win threat.
- Measure (15-1): A Mark Casse-trained daughter of Essential Quality, Measure finished second to Directive in their June 4 meeting. While she needs to find several lengths to compete with the top tier, she is a consistent performer who could land a piece of the exotic wagers.
- Dandona (20-1): Saffie Joseph Jr. brings this Tiz the Law filly north after a sixth-place finish in the Regret (G3). She would need a significant pace collapse to be competitive here.
- Miss Fulton Gal (30-1): Coming off a win in the Christiana Stakes, this Rock Your World filly is making a massive jump in class.
- Nycon (30-1): Trained by Whitworth Beckman, Nycon was fourth in the Gazelle (G3) and seeks to improve on her mid-pack consistency.
Historical Context and the Triple Tiara
The Coaching Club American Oaks is more than just a standalone race; it is a vital component of the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) Triple Tiara. Historically, the series consisted of the Acorn, the CCA Oaks, and the Alabama Stakes. Winning all three is an achievement reserved for the elite, with legends like Sky Beauty (1993) and Mom’s Command (1985) among the few to sweep the series.
The race was first run in 1917 and has seen various distance changes over the decades. It was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga in 2010, where it has flourished as a mid-summer highlight. The 1 1/8-mile distance is a grueling test for three-year-old fillies in the July heat, often serving as a stamina-building bridge to the 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes in August.
For Always a Runner, a win on Saturday would solidify her Horse of the Year credentials and avenge her Acorn defeat. For Counting Stars, a victory would likely vault her to the top of the divisional rankings, making her the undisputed leader heading into the final month of the Saratoga meet.
Implications for the Three-Year-Old Filly Division
The absence of La Rascasse is a disappointment for fans of "new faces" in the sport, but it ensures that the championship battle remains focused on the established leaders. However, the "setback" mentioned by Walden serves as a reminder of the fragility of the thoroughbred athlete. The division has already seen several high-profile injuries this year, and maintaining a healthy roster is often the deciding factor in year-end Eclipse Award voting.
From a wagering perspective, the scratch of La Rascasse likely compresses the odds on the favorites. Bettors who were looking for an alternative to the Brown and Casse trainees may now migrate toward Pletcher’s Zany or the high-speed Directive.
The race is scheduled as the 10th event on Saturday’s 12-race program, with an approximate post time of 5:45 p.m. EDT. While the "French-named" phenom La Rascasse will be watching from the sidelines this time, her record-breaking performance at Churchill Downs ensures that whenever she does return to the entry box, she will be met with the same high expectations that followed her to the Spa this summer. For now, the stage belongs to the established queens of the dirt, as they look to settle their score on Saratoga’s hallowed grounds.
