Friday’s inaugural running of the $250,000 Matron S. at Oaklawn Park was the comeback spot of choice for two sprint queens, Wicked Halo and Matareya, with the former prevailing.

Even-money favorite Happy Soul made a winning comeback in Saturday’s $150,000 Dixie Belle S., revealing a new tactical dimension.

Saturday’s $150,000 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park is the comeback spot not only for Happy Soul, one of Wesley Ward’s smashing speedsters, but also Wicked Halo, who was last seen surviving a brutal pace war in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga.

A smashing debutante on Saratoga’s July 15 opener, Echo Zulu followed up as the 0.65-1 favorite in Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1) on the penultimate day of the meet.

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.