FLORENCE, Ky. – Black Onyx, making his stakes debut, ran himself right into the Kentucky Derby discussion Saturday when he drove to a 15-1 upset under Joe Bravo in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Last Gunfighter passed another test Saturday at Aqueduct, earning his first graded stakes victory when he rallied along the rail under Rajiv Maragh to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes by two lengths.

 Mordi’s Miracle, the 2-1 favorite and part of a contested early pace with Colizeo, did well to be second by 5 1/2 lengths over Isn’t He Perfect. Joan’s Choice, Ruler On Ice, Colizeo, and Heart Butte completed the order of finish.

FLORENCE, Ky. – Silsita got the favorable head-bob following a searing stretch duel with longshot Marathon Lady to give trainer Todd Pletcher a Kentucky Oaks candidate when she notched the most narrow of victories Saturday in the 31st running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.

Bettors pounded Bold Affair down to 1-9 and she had no problem justifying their confidence by cruising to a repeat victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Conniver Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares at Laurel Park.

Facing just four rivals, the 5-year-old Bold Affair ($2.20) easily made the lead under regular rider Abel Castellano Jr. in the seven-furlong Conniver and was never seriously threatened while reaching the wire in 1:25.14.

“I started to hustle her a little bit and she started going so I let her do her own thing,” Castellano said.

Maryland legend King Leatherbury got an early birthday present Saturday when he was honored after the third race at Laurel Park.

Leather, who turns 80 on Tuesday, was a bit sheepish about all the fuss in the winner’s circle, where a banner was unfurled with the slogan “Long live the King,” wishing him happy birthday. Fans at the track received a King Leatherbury button and a birthday cupcake.

“It is a little embarrassing but I appreciate the tribute,” said Leatherbury, who ranks fourth on the all-time list of trainers with 6,373 wins.

Dan Bork, who has served as racing secretary here for the past four years, will resign that post at the end of the meet. Bork will be replaced by Jeffrey Noe, currently the assistant racing secretary at Calder.

“This decision was purely my own and based on the fact that being racing secretary year-round at Gulfstream would not allow me to spend the kind of time I want with my two children in Kentucky,” said Bork.

Trainers Michael Aro and Lupe Preciado literally have the opposition outnumbered in Tuesday’s $75,000 Langhorne Stakes for fillies and mares. Aro and Preciado have four of the six starters in the 6 1/2-furlong overnight stakes, including defending champion Winning Image.

But due to different ownership, both sets of stablemates will race uncoupled, leaving bettors to ponder which horse has the best chance of winning the featured eighth race.

Stickcrossmountain will have to overcome a near four-month layoff on Monday to remain perfect at Will Rogers Downs. He goes in the fifth race, a six-furlong allowance for Oklahoma-breds that should produce starters for the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint on April 9.

Stickcrossmountain won the TRAO last year at Will Rogers in one of two wins he has had at the Claremore, Okla., track. He also accounted for the race’s allowance prep, last March. Monday, the horse will face five others, including fellow stakes winners Ridge Road and Hollywood Ice.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The March 2 program at Santa Anita will rightfully be remembered for Game On Dude’s emphatic win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap. It turns out two maiden race winners on that day – the 3-year-olds Storm Fighter and Summer Exclusive – may be deserving of attention over time.

Storm Fighter, who won a race for California-breds over 1 1/16 miles in his third start, and Summer Exclusive, who won over 6 1/2 furlongs in his career debut that day, are being prepared for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Itsmyluckyday has made great strides this winter by learning to relax. He’s obviously taken his cue from his trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr., who remains remarkably calm in the face of all the pressure associated with having a leading Kentucky Derby contender in his barn.