It was a successful holiday weekend at Laurel Park in Maryland for New York horses and horsemen.

On Monday, Roddy J. Valente’s Bustin Stones remained undefeated and scored the biggest win of his young career when he lead at every call and got a head in front of Lord Snowdon to take Laurel’s Presidents’ Day feature, the Grade 2, seven-furlong General George. The 4-year-old, New York-bred City Zip colt, trained by Bruce Levine and ridden by Aqueduct’s leading jockey Ramon Dominguez, is now 5-for-5.

The Belmont Park-based Golden Dawn made quick work of a good field in Saturday’s Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel, winning the seven-furlong stakes race by six comfortable lengths. Golden Dawn, who had recently won Aqueduct’s Fiesta Lady January 9th, started for trainer Mike Hushion with Big A regular Channing Hill in the irons. Golden Dawn is owned by Syosset resident Marty Cunningham.

“That was pretty exciting stuff,” said the usual low-key Hushion. “We went down there confident because she was doing so well, but that was really something to see her beat that kind of field like that.”

In Golden Dawn’s wake were seven horses, among them the multiple Aqueduct stakes winning Control System and Oprah Winney. Hushion, who noted Golden Dawn returned to Belmont Park on Saturday night, has not yet figured out where his powerful sprinter would run next.

The likeliest spot could be Aqueduct’s Grade 2, $150,000 Distaff Handicap on March 22nd.

“We’re going to let the dust settle before we decide anything,” Hushion said. “That was some performance.”

A little more than an hour before Golden Dawn’s Fritchie tour-de-force, the Belmont-based Nite Light won his third straight stakes race in the John Campbell Handicap. Nite Light, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Mike Luzzi, had previously won back-to-back Aqueduct stakes in the Coyote Lakes and Gallant Fox. Currently, he sits as New York’s leading marathon dirt horse with stakes wins ranging from nine-to-13 furlongs.

“Nite Light really has a lot of momentum and confidence now,” said Pletcher’s New York assistant, Seth Benzel. “You can tell he keeps getting better and better. For him to go from those marathons where I think they really played to his style back to a nine-furlong race like the Campbell really says a lot about the horse.

“He’s had a steady campaign up to this point so I’m not sure where he’s going. He looks good and we’ll just keep him healthy and happy for now.”

The Pletcher barn may have found a Gotham-bound horse in Holidaze, a Harlan’s Holiday colt three-year-old who won an entry-level allowance here Saturday by a length over a decent field. Holidaze showed some poise too in the win after he overcame early trouble on the first turn and launched an impressive run through the last 300 yards or so. The 1 mile and 70 yards route was Holidaze’s first start around two turns and first race beyond six furlongs.

Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gotham for three-year-olds carries a $250,000 purse, is contested at one mile and a sixteenth and will be run on Saturday, March 8th.

“After the race he ran the Gotham is definitely a possibility,” Benzel said. “I know Todd is going to talk to Mr. Campbell about it.”

Holidaze, who appeared to relish the conditions of his route debut, is owned by Dogwood Stable.

“We tried to get him in a two turn race before Saturday, but the race didn’t go or something always came up,” Benzel said. “Saturday seemed to be a very educational race for him. As long as he can move forward off it I would say the Gotham is in his sights.”

Benzel noted the barn has a confirmed Gotham starter in Texas Wildcatter, a Monarchos colt who recently finished third to Barrier Reef and Roman Emperor in Aqueduct’s Whirlaway. Texas Wildcatter was beaten less than three lengths for all the money in the Whirlaway.

“We felt he did enough to take another shot in a race like the Gotham,” Benzel said. “We definitely feel he fits with those kinds of horses.”

Saturday’s $75,000-added Rare Treat Handicap leads the Big A stakes charge this coming weekend. The Rare Treat, open to fillies and mares three-years-old and up, will be run at nine furlongs over the inner track. Those pointing to the race are Brazilian-bred Aliysa (117 pounds), Guidance (112 pounds), Homerette (112 pounds), Runway Rosie (115 pounds) and Wild Hoots (116 pounds).

Three-year-old fillies take the spotlight in Sunday’s $75,000-added Busher at one mile and a sixteenth. Only three fillies are currently considered definite for the race: Deities Day, Love Co and Little Belle.

Regardless of field size, the Gary Contessa-trained Love Co will be the favorite. A New York-bred by Not for Love, Love Co drilled five rivals earlier this month in the Glory in Motion, a route race she won by nearly 13 lengths. Love Co is perfect in two starts around two turns and appears a serious state-bred runner.

“I never thought she was a sprinter and two turns is definitely her game,” said Contessa, who is Aqueduct’s leading trainer by a large margin with 52 wins. “She trained good going into the last race and she’s trained good since then.”