Two Opens totalling $36,112 in purses were on tap at Batavia Downs on Saturday night, Oct. 19 and a show of force was displayed by both winners. 

The $18,056 Open Pace went first and was scratched down to a five-horse field that Livonjaxandqueens (Jim McNeight Jr.) beat from start to finish. 

McNeight pushed Livonjaxandqueens to the fore and settled on the lead passing the :28 quarter. With Comet Crusader N (Shawn McDonough) following from second, Livonjaxandqueens got to the half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:26.2 where the top two lost touch with the rest of the field. Livonjaxandqueens spun through the final bend and at the top of the stretch, Comet Crusader N pulled and tried to catch the leader. But he came up a half length short as Livonjaxandqueens crossed first in 1:54.3.

The win was the sixth of the year in 22 starts for Livonjaxandqueens ($5.70), a four-year-old son of American Ideal who is owned by Howard Ouriel and trained by Jim Rothfuss. 

Then in the $18,056 Open Handicap Trot, El Toro Loco (pictured above with Kevin Cummings) poured it as he thumped the competition. 

City Of Hope (John Cummings Jr.) grabbed the lead at the quarter but almost immediately, El Toro Loco took it from him and for all intents and purposes, the race was over at that point. El Toro Loco had an easy 1-1/2-length advantage to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.3. Then coming out of the last turn, El Toro Loco bolted from the field and stretched out to a 5-1/2-length margin at the beam that he broke in 1:56.2. 

El Toro Loco ($7.90), a five-year-old gelded son of Walner now with four wins from 16 seasonal starts, is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.

Kevin Cummings ended the night with a total of three wins while Sam Smith concluded the card with two. Darrin Monti also had two wins and joined Smith as the top trainers for the night.

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the last race. The single unique combination of 1-6-9-5-2 returned $7,090.10 for a 20-cent wager. 

Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 23 with post time at 6 p.m.

(With files from Batavia Downs)