A runaway winner of a conditioned Oaklawn Park allowance in his previous outing, Awesome Aaron carried his improving form forward in Friday’s $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) at Pimlico, surging from just off the pace to overhaul Phileas Fogg and score by about a length.

The sight of the late Marylou Whitney’s homebred Pretty Birdie wiring the $150,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) added another layer of emotion to Saratoga's opening day.