Putting aside for the moment the variable of a drying out main track, if it even is drying out to the extent that it can affect final times, the first division of today's split 2-year-old maiden races at Saratoga, race 4, was slightly faster by .2 seconds than the second division, race 6, which was just completed. And that was after comparable early paces in these races.

Endorsed, a Godolphin/McLaughlin Medaglia d'Oro firster let go at 8-1, won the first division by reeling in the strongly favored Chad Brown-trained firster Ahead of Plan, and completed the six furlongs in 1:11.22.

Code of Honor, a Shug McGaughey-trained firster by Noble Mission, off at 6-1, wired the 3-5 favorite Wild Medagliad'oro in the second division in 1:11.42 seconds for the six furlongs.

As an aside, I feel a little bad for Wild Medagliad'oro, even if he was an unsuccessful odds-on favorite. Wild Medagliad'oro has made his first two career starts at this Saratoga meet and finished a rallying second in both, both on days when I feel the main track was speed favoring.

Yes, at this point, after seeing the way Elizabeth Nicole won the fifth race at 20-1 after disputing the early pace, and as I inferred early in the card, I do think today's Saratoga main track is speed favoring.