Fresh off his 1:53.2 career-best win at Woodbine Mohawk Park last week, Victor Invictus made the trip down the QEW to Batavia Downs on Saturday, Oct. 10 and went gate to wire to win again in the $19,286 Open Handicap Trot. 

Victor Invictus dashed to the top from post one for Mike Whelan and trotted to the quarter in :28.4 and half in :59.2. At that point, Double Class (Kyle Cummings) was out and rolling right next to Victor Invictus and matched strides with the leader to three-quarters in 1:28, around the last turn and into the stretch. Down the lane, Victor Invictus methodically edged back away from Double Class to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Civilian Drone (Ray Fisher Jr.) completed the top three.

The win was the 11th win of the year in 35 starts for the venerable 10-year-old Victor Invictus ($15.70). He now has 30 career victories and has earned $411,758 from 240 outings. The gelded son of Kadabra-Whitesand Electra is owned by his trainer, Ken Middleton Jr. of Cambridge, Ont., in partnership with Dante Sindori and Peter Kurjancic of Sudbury, Ont.

The co-featured $19,286 Open Handicap Pace was won by Livonjaxandqueens, who followed cover to victory. 

Livonjaxandqueens, driven by Brett MacDonald, got away fourth as Ontop Rainman (Whelan) and Primo Uomo (Kevin Cummings) traded leads passing the quarter in :28. Once finally on top, Primo Uomo got to the half in :57 and was quickly under duress from Lip Reader A (Drew Monti), who had Livonjaxandqueens following right on his back. Lip Reader A continued to press until he got the lead at three-quarters in 1:25.2 and crossed over before the turn. That left Livonjaxandqueens uncovered in the breeze around that final bend, but he stuck alongside the leader. Livonjaxandqueens passed Lip Reader A in mid-stretch and pulled away under wraps by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.1. Lip Reader A held second over Thunder Country (Andy Shetler).

Livonjaxandqueens ($5.68) took his eighth win of the season in 25 starts for owners Howard and Andrew Ouriel and trainer Jim Rothfuss. The six-year-old son of American Ideal-Its De Lovely is now 32-for-113 lifetime with $421,257 in the bank.

Hunt For Cash successfully bagged another lump sum as the seven-year-old Huntsville-L Dees Val gelding rallied to his fifth consecutive victory in the $15,714 Class AA Pace. Joe Chindano Jr. engineered a fortuitous ground-saving trip from the second-tier post nine, as after keeping his charge in the four-hole through :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25 panels, rivals vacating the rail allowed Hunt For Cash to advance to the pocket turning for home. From there, he utilized the passing lane and dashed to a 1-1/4-length score in 1:55. Total Stranger (John Cummings Jr.) was second off a game front-end trip, followed by Italian Lad N (Kyle Cummings).

First-year trainer Jennina Shaw conditions Hunt For Cash ($13.70), whose win streak has brought his seasonal totals to 10 victories from 32 appearances. The gelding, owned by Chindano, is now 28-for-137 lifetime with $344,251 in earnings.

Chindano led all drivers on Saturday with three wins while Bradley Jackson topped the trainers with a double on the 10-race card.

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Monday for a special holiday matinee card at 12:15 p.m. There will be a $14,851 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 11th race.

(With files from Batavia Downs)