by James Witherite, Meadowlands media relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Batavia Downs driving champion Drew Monti notched his first ever driving victory at The Meadowlands, teaming up with owner/trainer Rick Dane’s I Found My Beach ($10.80) in Thursday evening’s (Dec. 29) ninth event, a $6,500 first-level conditioned pace.

The 22-year-old Canisius College alumnus put the 7-year-old Mach Three gelding into play immediately, clearing on the first turn but yielding to Sapient Hanover (Joe Bongiorno) at the completion of a :27.1 first quarter-mile. I Found My Beach enjoyed clear sailing from the pocket through the middle half-mile before angling off the pegs to challenge with five-sixteenths to go.

After wearing down Sapient Hanover and taking charge at the eighth pole, I Found My Beach was called upon for everything he had left to parry a late challenge from Twincreeks Jesse (Tyler Smith), prevailing by a head in 1:55.1 over good going. Yankee Favorite (Brett Miller) rallied belatedly to claim third as the 8-5 favorite.

For I Found My Beach, the win was his third of the year and 23rd of his career.

Brett Miller was the only driver to score multiple wins on the 10-race card, teaming up with a pair of odds-on favorites. Miller captured the second race with Heidi Rohr trainee Sportsmuffler ($3.40, 1:55.1), as well as the finale with Tom Shay trainee Mr Bubbles N ($3.60, 1:54.3).

Live racing returns to the Big M on Friday (Dec. 30), with the first of 12 races due off at 7:15 p.m. Friday’s last-race 20-cent Jackpot High-Five will boast a carryover of $13,245.02.