Yonkers: 2018 George Morton Levy Series kicks off with five divisions

It was advertised as a series that anyone could win, but following the first leg of the George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers, it appears as if familiar faces are en vogue.

Mach It So, the 8-year-old veteran, kicked off five $50,000 divisions at Yonkers on Saturday night with a powerhouse 1:53 3/5 victory for trainer Jeff Bamond Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick.

The son of Mach Three made a regaining move as the even-money choice, supplanting Chumlee A from the lead, and then carved out solid fractions en route to his 41st career victory. Chumlee A held for second in a photo over Bettor Memories.

The 7-year-old Always At My Place looked to be in the toughest of the five divisions on paper, but substitute driver George Brennan guided the Ron Burke trainee to a solid first-over score, wearing down last year's Aged Pacer of the Year Keystone Velocity in early stretch and then gamely holding Mister Daytona N and Christen Me N at bay. The former had sat third on the rail and found room inside, while Christen Me N and Tetrick obviously feared getting locked in and angled from the pocket in early stretch, losing momentum.

Always At My Place was a 5-1 winner in his seasonal debut.

Fear of getting locked in was not the issue in the third $50,000 Levy division as Dr J Hanover, a 2-1 offering, used the pole position to complete advantage for driver Brett Miller.

Canada's fastest horse of all time got the quarter in 28 2/5 with favorite All Bets Off content in second and Somewhere In L A and Awesomeness following along as the pace slowed to 58 1/5 for the opening half. Miller didn't have much to fear down the backstretch as the 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-sired gelding cruised through three-quarters in 1:26 4/5 and easily marched off in a 1:55 mile. Somewhere In L A came on late for the place spot with All Bets Off, the richest horse in this year's Levy, settling for third in his season's debut.

Tony Alagna trains Dr J Hanover.

The Burke stable doubled up when Rockin Ron, the 2-5 favorite in the fourth Levy division, made a regaining move at the quarter and never looked back, scoring for Yannick Gingras in a 1:53 mile.

Rockin Ron, a 6-year-old son of Real Desire, allowed Evenin Of Pleasure to gain command off the first turn, but was in front past the 27 1/5 opener, and then got a second quarter breather that essentially sealed the fate of his rivals. Evenin Of Pleasure had clearance from headstretch and finished second, with Western Dynasty third.

Bit Of A Legend N came back ready in his first start of 2018 for trainer Pete Tritton and driver Jordan Stratton, capturing the final Levy division as a 9-1 outsider.

The race saw much early activity as Great Vintage and Franco Rayner N dueled feverishly through a 26 3/5 opening quarter, with Great Vintage getting control. A 56 4/5 opening half was set with no dispute, and Tetrick waited until the field had cleared the third turn before engaging favored Missile J without cover. Bit Of A Legend N and Stratton stayed glued to that cover, and on the final turn the pair gained on pacemaker Great Vintage. Missile J gamely wore down the leader but couldn't stall the 2016 Levy champion in the late stages of a 1:53 3/5 mile. Long Live Rock followed the top pair home in third.