The leader of the 3-year-old filly division will emerge from Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.After beginning her career with three straight wins led by a powerful, come-from-behind victory in the GI Kentucky Oaks, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Always a Runner (Gun Runner) looks to get back on track following a runner-up finish behind Counting Stars (Honor A. P.) as the 4-5 favorite in the GI DraftKings Acorn S. at Saratoga June 5.The 9-5 morning-line favorite and $1.05-million Keeneland September graduate will exit from post six with Jose Ortiz aboard.“She got a good trip. I don't think there's any excuse,” trainer Chad Brown said. “The winner ran super, and my filly may have regressed just a touch off her hard Oaks effort. I see a horse that is fully recovered now from that race, and looks rested and well right now. So, I'm hoping that in her last start, she was feeling the Oaks a little bit and that was the reason for a slightly off effort.”Counting Stars, third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks, turned the tables on Always a Runner with a spectacular, 3 3/4-length victory beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the Spa last time. Counting Stars will break from the rail in the CCA Oaks. Ortiz, Jr. is back aboard.“Right now, she's at the top level,” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “She's as good as any 3-year-old filly in the country. This is a Grade I. It's a big race and I think she's going to be tough.”He added, “I think she's better than ever. I expect her to run an even bigger one.”The CCA Oaks field also includes Zany (American Pharoah), who adds blinkers following a disappointing sixth-place finish as the lukewarm 5-1 choice in the Kentucky Oaks.Unbeaten 'Rising Star' and Monomoy Girl Overnight S. winner La Rascasse (Authentic) will be scratched due to a setback in her training, per trainer Will Walden.“She'll go to the farm for a little while and her prognosis to return to racing is excellent,” Walden said. “We'll decide to get her back towards the beginning of next year and gear towards the spring.”Saratoga's 12-race program also co-features the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt S., headed by GIII Bango S. runner-up Built (Hard Spun).A deep field of nine, meanwhile, will line up in Saturday's GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.Cornucopian | Benoit'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' (Into Mischief) is the headliner there. He's won three of four this season and earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure while winning the GIII Aristides S. at Churchill Downs last time May 30.“He's doing great,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “It's a tough race. There are some nice horses in there. The 'Bing' is always a tough race to win.” The Bing Crosby also includes last year's GII Pat O'Brien S. one-two Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper).Saturday's graded stakes action also includes the GIII Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park; and a trio from Woodbine–the GIII Hendrie S., GIII Ontario Colleen S. and GIII Trillium S.On Sunday, the uber-talented Formidable Man (City of Light) will be back to defend his title in Del Mar's GII Eddie Read S. while narrow GII Bed o' Roses S. runner-up Grand Job (Justify) will be heavily favored in Saratoga's GII Honorable Miss S.The post Round Three: Always a Runner and Counting Stars Meet Again in CCA Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.