After getting a perfect pocket trip, Chapter Geo J held off three opponents to capture the lone $160,417 New York Sire Stakes division for three-year-old male trotters at Batavia Downs, where driver Drew Monti won five races on Wednesday, Sept. 2. 

Ai (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Highway Six (Jeff Gregory) argued for the lead through the first eighth of a mile, with Highway Six crossing over just as Ai made a break. That left Chapter Geo J (Jason Bartlett) sitting in the garden spot, where he would stay for seven-eighths of the mile. Highway Six set fractions of :28, :59.1 and 1:28.3 as Ai made his way back into contention at that last station. 

Highway Six rounded the last bend and took his lead into the stretch as Chapter Geo J and Ai were right on his back. Halfway down the stretch, Twin B Seven Sins (Drew Monti) joined the fray and all four horses still had a shot to win. But Chapter Geo J slipped into the passing lane, took the lead from Highway Six, and then held off his fast closing stablemate, Twin B Seven Sins, to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1. Ai finished third.

The win was the fifth in the last six starts and sixth win of the year overall from 10 tries for Chapter Geo J ($3.42), who is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Noel Daley. Lester Beechy bred the Chapter Seven-Miss Vet Hanover colt, now six-for-16 lifetime.  

There was also one $27,778 division of the New York Excelsior Series that was won by Self Portrait ($20.90), one of five winners for Monti. The Chapter Seven-Bird On Money gelding went gate to wire in 1:58 for trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner Melvin Straley.

Monti also won with Naked Truth (1:54.2, $6.32), Pointomygranson (1:53.4, $2.74), Brookview Darius (1:59.1, $3.82) and Machs Legacy A (1:54, $3.14), the last three being a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. Monti also had two seconds and a third from his 10 drives, giving him a stellar .644 UDR for the program. 

Trainers Sheena Cohen and Chris Petrelli each registered two wins during live racing on Wednesday. 

Tornadoes near Batavia, severe lightning, thunderstorms with torrential rain and hurricane-force winds moved into the area later in the card, prompting the cancellation of the final three races for the safety of all involved.

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Thursday at 4 p.m. There will be a $1,217 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 12th race. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)