Horse Racing News on March 23, 2013

Sky Kingdom, on the comeback trail for trainer Bob Baffert, spurted away from challenger Oilisblackgold in the stretch to easily record his first stakes victory in the marathon Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita Park March 23.

A world record of 2:22.72 for 1 1/2 miles on turf set by Bright Thought in last week's San Luis Rey at Santa Anita didn't last long as Twilight Eclipse narrowly bested that mark by completing Saturday's Pan American in a time of 2:22.63 over a firm turf.

Silsita was making her stakes bow in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks, but that didn't stop the Todd Pletcher trainee from dueling to a nose win over fellow stakes debuter and longshot Marathon Lady on the wire of the one-mile contest.

Sterling Racing's Black Onyx made his stakes debut a winning one and secured a Kentucky Derby berth in Saturday's Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, posting a 1 1/2-length decision over Uncaptured.

John D. Gunther's homebred Last Gunfighter survived a troubled start and came through on the rail to win the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes

Team Valor Stable's Crop Report impressive winner in Saturday's $75,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park.