If there was ever a horse with a home field advantage, it’s Livonjaxandqueens, who will be making his next start in the $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 23.
“Jax” and all of his connections have close ties to the city of Batavia. New York and the track that bears its name, and they’re all rooting for this "David" as he takes on a field of "Goliaths."
Livonjaxandqueens is owned and bred by Howard Ouriel, who is a lifelong fan of harness racing and a staunch supporter of the sport in Western New York. Ouriel lives in Rochester, New York, which is only a short drive down the thruway from Batavia Downs, and since first getting in the business 15 years ago, he has owned 55 horses, 19 of which he bred. And although he has raced all over the U.S. east coast, Ouriel has always maintained a constant racing presence at Batavia Downs.
Ouriel has had his share of good ones too, led by Macs Jackpot (1:50.2f, $1,036,566), Divine Caroline (1:49.2, $959,588), The Lunch Pail (1:51.1f, $568,582) and Cultural Paradise (1:51.3f, $381,206). But his current stable star may be providing the proudest moment of his career as his homebred will start in the home track’s main event.
Livonjaxandqueens was foaled at Genesee Valley Farm in Batavia, New York, which is literally across the street from Batavia Downs. He’s a five-year-old gelding by American Ideal out of Ouriel’s mare, Its De Lovely, who he bought in November of 2010 at the end of her three-year-old campaign.
Its De Lovely raced in upper-level conditions and Opens throughout the east for Ouriel until her last season in 2015 when she raced primarily in Western New York and Batavia Downs. Her 24 lifetime wins, mark of 1:51.2f and earnings of $642,029 made her a candidate for breeding once her track career came to a close. To date, she has had six foals, but her best by a mile has been her fourth, Livonjaxandqueens.
Livonjaxandqueens' trainer is Jim Rothfuss, whose father Don was a leading trainer and driver at Batavia Downs for over 40 years. Jim Rothfuss trained at The Meadows for most of his 25-year career, but came home in 2022 and has been training on Ouriel’s farm in Spencerport, New York ever since.
Rothfuss explained how Livonjaxandqueens has progressed through the years.
“I got him at two, then he went to New Jersey and he came back at three. That’s when we gelded him. He was good those first two years and competed in the New York Sire Stakes, producing seven wins and [$102,080] in earnings," said Rothfuss. "But he was a handful behind the gate and in the race and very hard on himself. Since we gelded him, he’s been super. He’s a lot easier to manage all the way around and now everyone loves to drive him.”
As a gelded four-year-old, Livonjaxandqueens entered the Open ranks and was a seven-time winner while taking a lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at Vernon Downs in May of 2024.
This year, Livonjaxandqueens has really come on and is in the midst of the best year of his life. So far, he has already won six starts including three in a row at Tioga Downs last month, and he matched his lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at Tioga on Aug. 10. Last week, Livonjaxandqueens just got beat by Santana Hanover in 1:49.2 at Tioga, marking the fastest mile he has ever been race timed.
“He was a lot better last year, but this year he’s been really good," said Rothfuss. "He’s matured a lot more and we’ve raced him at Tioga most of the year and he seems to like that track a lot. But he also had a lot of success at Batavia last year as he raced almost the entire meet there.”
As Rothfuss readies his horse for this event, he’s very optimistic despite dealing with a slightly shorter week.
“His schedule was a little different this week because we raced Sunday and he’s back Saturday. He gets a day out in the field after the race, then he jogs and trains two days out. He’s been good all week; sound, healthy and happy.
“Hopefully we get away close, sit and see what happens. It’s a tough bunch we’re in with but I don’t think he’s going to embarrass himself; I think he’s going to be alright. I think if we can get away close, he’ll go along with them. It’s up to Drew now.”
Rothfuss was referring to his driver, Drew Monti, who has teamed a lot of Ouriel’s horses over the years, including Livonjaxandqueens. Monti is the reigning 2024 dash driving champ at Batavia Downs and is currently second in the standings at this meet with 36 wins.
From his 74 lifetime outings, Livonjaxandqueens has won 20 times, which is 27 per cent of those starts while being in the money 57 per cent of the time and earning just over $260,000 in the process. His continued improvement on the track brings him into this event at the top of his game as he looks to win the biggest race of his career.
The $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace will go as race 10 on Saturday with an estimated post time of 9 p.m. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.
$100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Livonjaxandqueens - Drew Monti - James Rothfuss - 9-2
2. Buzzsaw Russ - Jason Bartlett - Melissa Essig - 7-2
3. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander - 3-1
4. Captain Albano - Tyler Buter - Noel Daley - 5-2
5. Birthday - Jim Morrill Jr. - Ron Burke - 9-1
6. Blazing Home N - Larry Stalbaum - Larry Stalbaum - 15-1
7. Typhoon Banner N - Brett Beckwith - Joe Bongiorno - 15-1
8. Natameri - Kevin Cummings - Jessica Okusko - 15-1
AE1. Howlenthehills - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
(With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Livonjxandqueens winning at Buffalo Raceway earlier this year)