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.

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.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Demonic, the winner of a maiden race over seven furlongs on Jan. 13, is being pointed for the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park or the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, trainer John Sadler said.

Both races are run on April 13.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Verrazano was a very slight favorite over the mutuel field after the first of three days of wagering into Pool 3 of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opened Friday at noon Eastern.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 may include three runners trained by Bob Baffert.

Baffert plans to start Flashback, who was second to Santa Anita Derby hopeful Hear the Ghost in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 9.

The last time Dennis Cardoza found himself anywhere near Sunland Park was on Dec. 22, 1984, when the Terrapins of his University of Maryland alma mater were staging the greatest comeback in the history of the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Down 21-zip to Tennessee at the half, the Terps scored 22 unanswered points, gave up a 100-yard touchdown runback, then clawed out another TD in the waning minutes to win the game, 28-27.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ken McPeek had to rush off and catch a flight to Kentucky on Friday morning, but he left town with a big smile on his face after watching his Florida Derby hopeful, Frac Daddy, work five furlongs in 1:00.24 about an hour earlier at Gulfstream Park.

With jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, Frac Daddy broke off a couple of lengths behind stablemate Kid Twist, posting splits of 24.17 seconds and 36.34 before pulling three lengths clear at the wire and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.31.

NEW ORLEANS – It’s not surprising that trainer Todd Pletcher will be well represented in the four Grade 2 stakes on Louisiana Derby Day.

Those races – the Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds Oaks, New Orleans Handicap, and Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap – have been good to Pletcher. He and the late Bobby Frankel are the only trainers who have won all four.

The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

Straight from the gate