It has been announced that driver Drew Monti has committed to steer horses regularly at another track.
Leading western New York reinsman Drew Monti is heading east to Massachusetts to become a regular in the driving colony at Plainridge Park.
Monti, who started driving at the age of 18, has put up some impressive numbers in his seven years campaigning at just about every track in New York State. From 8,427 lifetime starts he has recorded 1,334 wins, 1,211 seconds and 1,179 thirds. He has steered his drives to $7.7 million in purses and currently sports career UDR of .284.
During his short career in western New York, Monti has already won two driving titles at Batavia Downs (2016, 2018) and one at Buffalo Raceway (2018).
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However this is not Monti's first foray outside of his home state to compete.
In the winter of 2017, the now 24-year-old headed to the Meadowlands Racetrack and drove in 163 pari-mutuel races. Over the seven weeks that he spent at the ‘Big M,’ Monti recorded 18 wins, 22 seconds, 18 thirds, and earned his horses’ connections $193,675 in purses.
In January of 2019, Monti went to Miami Valley to compete against 30 of the sport's top reinsmen in the North American Drivers Championship and finished a close third behind winner Dan Noble.
Monti has gotten support from several stables upon hearing of his move to ‘The Ridge,’ and one of them is Lindy Farms.
The president of Lindy Farms, Frank M. Antonacci, has said that ‘Lindy’ will support Monti’s move to Plainridge with drives from their stable. That in part is why Monti decided to come to Massachusetts.
“I had been watching Drew drive for the past couple years and know the ability he has. I think coming to Plainridge is going to help move his career forward and provide him the opportunity to drive stakes horses both here and beyond,” said Antonacci.
“Talent got him to where he is today and he seems like a good young man with a bright future. I look forward to having him drive for us.”
A 2016 graduate of Canisius College with a degree in finance, Monti recognized the opportunities ahead of him at Plainridge Park and felt it was a good time to make the move.
"I had heard a lot of good things about Plainridge, the people racing there and their great purse structure in place as a result of the state's Horse Racing Development Fund and really look forward to racing there full time. It seems like a great place to compete," said Monti.
"Massachusetts has a fast growing sire stakes program, one that a lot of people outside the Commonwealth are talking about. I look forward to getting starts there as well and with Lindy Farms support, I am really excited about this opportunity."
Monti has made a few trips to The Ridge this past week and already likes the track, and his four wins in 12 starts are evidence of that.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)