Batavia: Chapter Geo J conquers in New York Sire Stakes

After getting a perfect pocket trip, Chapter Geo J (Chapter Seven-Miss Vet Hanover) held off three opponents to capture the lone $115,500 NYSS division for 3-year-old male trotters that was held at Batavia Downs. In other action on the Wednesday program, driver Drew Monti won half the races with his five-victory performance.

AI (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Highway Six (Jeff Gregory) argued for the lead through the first eighth, but Highway Six then crossed-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 would set fractions of 28, 56 1/5 and 1:28 3/5 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. However, it was Chapter Geo J who 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 1/5.

It was the fifth win in the last six starts and sixth win of the year overall for Chapter Geo J ($3.42), who is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Noel Daley. Lester Beechy bred the winner.

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There was also one $20,000 division of the NYSS Excelsior Series that was won by Self Portrait (Chapter Seven-Bird On Money), who went gate-to-wire in 1:58 for driver Drew Monti and trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. Self Portrait ($20.90) is owned by Melvin Straley and was bred by Order By Stable Ab.

Self Portrait was the last of five winners driven by Monti on Wednesday. He also won with Naked Truth (1:54 2/5, $6.32), Pointomygranson (1:53 4/5, $2.74), Brookview Darius (1:59 1/5, $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 (Sept. 3) at 4 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Batavia)--