Golden Ticket fares far better than Alpha in Left Bank

In a rematch between the two horses who finished in a dead heat for first in the 2012 Travers, Golden Ticket and Alpha finished first and last in Friday’s $100,000 Left Bank Stakes, the opening-day feature at Belmont Park’s 38-day fall meet.

Golden Ticket ($7.30) trailed down the backstretch as Integrity set early fractions of 23.05 and 45.47 seconds, circled widest at the quarter pole as Integrity continued to show the way after six furlongs in 1:09.64, and drove clear in the late stages to win going away beneath Joel Rosario.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Golden Ticket ran one mile in 1:35 flat, and earned $60,000 for his first win since the Prairie Meadows Handicap in July 2013.

Pants On Fire, the 7-5 favorite in the field of five, overtook Integrity for second. Stormin Monarco finished fourth.

Alpha tired steadily after racing close up early along the rail.