Yonkers, NY — Bythemissal and driver Yannick Gingras bounced back from a narrow defeat in the Canadian Pacing Derby seven days ago to dominate in the $250,000 Aria Inviational Pace, a co-feature of MGM Yonkers Raceway’s International Day program, winning the mile and one-quarter event in a track record 2:21.2 clocking.

Bythemissal cruised in the Aria Invitational Pace on Saturday afternoon. Mike Lizzi Photo.

Bythemissal, a gelded son of Downbytheseaside, left patiently from post six as None Bettor A (Jason Bartlett) left alertly from the pole position and yielded the lead to second choice Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy) before the :27.2 opening quarter. Gingras moved Bythemissal with purpose to secure the front on the second turn, and from that point, despite a field of 10 horses, few were interested in taking on the prohibitive favorite.

Bythemissal was able to carve out soft fractions of :55.4 and 1:26.2 as only Poseidon Seelster and George Brennan were willing to advance without cover. Whichwaytothebeach (Mark MacDonald) followed in the second-over position, with Linedrive Hanover (Brian Sears) third- over in a limited outer flow. The added distance saw Bythemissal cruise past the mile marker in 1:54 with Gingras allowing him to pace on his own. Linedrive Hanover made a move wide on the backstretch but wasn’t gaining on the leader at any point.

In the homestretch Bythemissal, trained by Ron Burke, sprinted off effortlessly, completing the record mile with a :27.2 final quarter. Allywag Hanover, making his first-ever appearance on a half-mile track was a distant second, with Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) rallying sharply late for the third spot. Linedrive Hanover held on for fourth with early leader None Bettor A finishing fifth.

“Today he was definitely on his game,” said Gingras following the victory.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo and Weaver Bruscemi, Bythemissal was a winner for the seventh time in nine starts as a 4-year-old and has now won 21 of 26 career races. As the 1-5 betting favorite Bythemissal paid $2.60 to win and keyed a $5 exacta and a $28.40 trifecta.