Yonkers, NY – Trainer Travis Alexander finished first and third in Saturday afternoon’s (Oct. 15) $250,000 MGM Aria Invitational Pace at Yonkers Raceway. The winner was None Bettor A, who rolled over the mile and a quarter distance in a world record 2:20.3.

None Bettor A won Saturday afternoon’s $250,000 MGM Aria Invitational Pace at Yonkers Raceway. Mark Hall/USTA Photo.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, None Bettor A was in the lead at the :27.2 opening quarter, but This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) tipped out of fourth and was able to clear None Bettor A for the top spot nearing the half, which went up on the board in :56 seconds flat. After This Is The Plan hit the front, Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) went on the attack first-over from fourth, giving cover to American Courage (Matt Kakaley).

This Is The Plan and Leonidas A would duel through a 1:23.2 three-quarters and a 1:51.2 mile, but Leonidas A had no more to give and began to fade on the last turn, giving Dunn a lane to tip off the cones with None Bettor A. Once he had room, None Bettor A had pace to go with it, and although This Is The Plan dug in determinedly, he couldn’t fend off None Bettor A, who surged by for the win by a head. American Courage was third, followed by Ignatius A (Andy McCarthy) and Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan).

“First and third, very happy. Both horses raced great,” said Alexander. “None Bettor had a wicked trip. It worked out and Dexter did the job. It was a big mile.”

When asked about the upcoming schedule for his two charges, Alexander replied, “Back to the Open here, that’s all [None Bettor’s] pretty much got. American Courage is going to stand and race next year at Blue Chip. We might call it quits now and get him ready for the Borgata.”

A 9-year-old Australian-bred Bettor’s Delight gelding, None Bettor A is trained by Alexander for owners Joe P Racing LLC. and Oldford Racing LLC. None Bettor A is now a 42-time winner in his career, and he has earned $1,020,177. Sent off at 7-1, None Bettor A paid $16.60 to win and keyed a $74.50 exacta and a $243.00 trifecta.

When racing resumes at Yonkers on Monday night (Oct. 17), there will be a $7,293.75 carryover and a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 after no tickets had five-of-five in the sequence on Saturday.

The guarantee in the Pick-5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick-5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here. The Pick-5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

This was the final scheduled Saturday card of 2022 at Yonkers Raceway. Live racing at the oval will now be conducted on a Monday through Friday basis, outside of Nov. 24 and 25 when the facility is dark for the Thanksgiving holiday, through closing night of the meet on Thursday, Dec. 22. Post time is 6:55 p.m.