Acorn Stakes Picks – Horse Racing Odds, Betting Preview, and Predictions (Jun 5)

• When: Friday, June 5, 2026 @ 5:08 PM ET
• Where: Saratoga, New York
• How to Watch: FOX/FanDuel TV

All eyes will be on Saratoga this weekend, as the Belmont Stakes headlines the card on Saturday. However, before then, the eyes will be on the fillies in the G1 Acorn Stakes, as the final leg of the Triple Tiara has attracted a field of five runners. Find the odds and our Acorn Stakes picks here.

Acorn Stakes Odds

Horse	Odds
Prom Queen	+600
Counting Stars	+700
Meaning	+400
Maximum Offer	+2000
Always A Runner	-150

Race Information & Records

Stat	Information
Race Distance	1 1/8 Miles
Purse	$500,000
Most Successful Trainer	Jim Fitzsimmons (6)
Most Successful Jockey	Eddie Arcaro, Mike Smith, John Velazquez (5)

ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026: Our Experts Share Their World Cup Picks

Acorn Stakes: Recent Winners

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
2025	La Cara	Dylan Davis	Mark Casse
2024	Thorpedo Anna	Brian Hernandez Jr	Kenneth McPeek
2023	Pretty Mischievous	Tyler Gaffalione	Brendan Walsh
2022	Matareya	Flavien Prat	Brad Cox
2021	Search Results	Javier Castellano	Chad Brown

Acorn Stakes: Runner-By-Runner Guide

Prom Queen (Brad Cox)

Prom Queen will be looking to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Acorn Stakes winner, bouncing back from a disappointing run in the Kentucky Oaks. The Brad Cox filly finished four lengths behind Always A Runner at Churchill Downs, but had looked incredibly progressive before that effort, winning back-to-back races at Gulfstream Park. Yet to show her best form outside of Florida, which would be a concern.

Counting Stars (Mark Casse)

Mark Casse landed the G1 Acorn with La Cara last year, and he holds a very strong chance once again in 2026. Counting Stars didn’t get the clearest run when third in the Kentucky Oaks, beaten just two lengths. She was the winner of the G2 Fantasy Stakes before that effort, and has shown versatility on track, having also won strikingly at Churchill Downs last September. Irad Ortiz being back aboard is a major plus.

Meaning (Michael McCarthy)

Meaning rounds off the beaten horses from the Kentucky Oaks, with the Michael McCarthy-trained runner finishing within two lengths of Always A Runner. The three-year-old is already a two-time stakes winner, including a striking victory at Santa Anita in April when beating Brooklyn Blonde by two lengths in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks. Dangerous contender, and should be primed to excel over further as a daughter of Gun Runner.

Maximum Offer (Kenneth McPeek)

Kenneth McPeek-trained Maximum Offer will likely be the major outsider in the G1 Acorn this weekend. The daughter of Maxfield has won twice from four starts in 2026, and was well beaten when fifth in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks. She did bounce back to form when winning an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. However, she is unlikely to have the quality to threaten an upset in this red-hot race.

Always A Runner (Chad Brown)

Chad Brown’s Always A Runner will be the red-hot favorite to maintain her excellent unbeaten record under rules. She took a major step up in grade in her stride at Churchill Downs last month, beating the field by over a length in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Should be bred to thrive over further as a daughter of Gun Runner, and it is hard to ignore that she has constantly improved based on the figures with every run.

Acorn Stakes Picks

Always A Runner and Counting Stars could be the obvious play for Exotics this weekend. The latter should be primed for a return to form with Irad Ortiz back aboard, but Chad Brown’s superstar filly could be the dominant runner to consider ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff later in the year.

Free Pick:

• Always A Runner (-150)