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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 26, 2012 · 26 Sports SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 Harness racing history pumps his fist in the air as he crosses the finish line with Michael's Power at the Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio on Thursday. The 23-year-old became the youngest driver to win the race, the second leg of the pacing Triple Crown. The youngest previous winner was Mark MacDonald (26 years, nine months) in 2006. Only five drivers under the age of 30 have won the race in its 67-year history. ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Oakville's Scott Zeron Conrad Photos / Special to the Oakville Beaver Scott Zeron becomes youngest driver to win Little Brown Jug By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Every sport has its premier event -- the Super Bowl, the Masters, the Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon -- in which a victory can define a career. In harness racing, for pacers, it is the Little Brown Jug. That might explain why, as he headed down the home stretch toward the wire, Oakville's Scott Zeron began pumping his fist in the air. When the 23-year-old crossed the line with Michael's Power Thursday afternoon, Zeron joined a long list of Hall of Fame drivers to have won the race since it was first contested in 1946. "This is epic," Zeron said. "This is the biggest race in harness racing in my eyes. Just to be there was incredible; to win it, especially on my first try, it was a dream come true." When informed later in the day that he not only joined that elite group, but made history by becoming the youngest driver to ever win the race, Zeron's victory took on a whole new meaning. It was no longer just his victory, but a victory for all young drivers. "It kind of sets an example," he said. "For young drivers it's tough to break into this business when there are so many successful drivers in their 40s and 50s. Most owners and trainers want the most experienced guys so it's not only tough to get a drive, but to get a Brown Jug. "He's always right in the hunt stakes drive, it's almost impossible. Some and he knows how to win." people think I'm too young, but I like to And Zeron, the son of veteran driver Rick think what I lack in experience, I make up in Zeron, proved he knows more than one way will and determination to go out and give the to do that. In the first heat, he held Michael's best trip possible every time." Power back, but within striking distance, The Little Brown Jug's history could pro- before turning it on down the stretch to beat vide a chicken or the egg "This is the biggest race favourite Bolt the Duer by a argument. Do older drivers head. win because of their experi- in harness racing in my "I know how good he is at ence -- the average age of the eyes. Just to be there following so I was perfectly winning driver is 41 -- or is was incredible; to win it, content to sit in the two-hole that the result of, as Zeron especially on my first and, fortunately, he squeaked says, younger drivers not try, it was a dream it out down the stretch." being given the opportunity? In the final, Zeron took a Zeron is just the fifth driver in come true." different path to the winhis 20s to step into the winner's circle, going straight ner's circle. The youngest pre- Scott Zeron on winning the to the front of the pack -- vious winner was Mark Little Brown Jug matching the opening-quarMacDonald in 2006 at 26 ter record of :25.2 -- and years, nine months. staying there until the end, winning comZeron got his break from Casie Coleman. fortably by one and three-quarter lengths. The O'Brien Award-winning trainer likes to "We really only raced the last sixteenth of a have the same driver with a horse for an mile (in the heat) so I knew he'd have a lot left," entire season. When she found herself in Zeron said. "When I asked him to go hard in the need of a driver for Michael's Power, she first quarter, he did. He settled into a comfortinvited Zeron to Florida and was impressed able pace and then came back nicely at the end with what she saw. and gave me that speed down the stretch." "He's calm and cool and he handles the Michael's Power stopped the clock at 1:50 horse well," said Coleman, who became just flat, matching the third fastest time in the the second female trainer to win the Little race's history. Zeron, a two-time O'Brien nominee for driver of the year, has topped the Canadian wins list the past two seasons. He picked up 606 victories in 2010, becoming the youngest driver to hit the 1,000-career win mark in the process and added another 539 victories last year. But Zeron had to endure a brutal schedule -- he made 3,015 starts in 2011, often racing from track to track on the same day -- to accumulate those wins. It was all a part of getting his name out there and proving himself. Now he feels he can be a little more selective. His win total is down to 284 but he tops the Canadian money leaders list and, with $6.5 million in purse earnings to date and several season-end stakes races to come, is well on his way to topping his single-season best of $8.19 million. It was his decision to opt for quality drives over quantity that made it an easy decision to commit to Coleman and Michael's Power. "When you're asked to commit, it's kind of putting all your eggs in one basket. If the trainer has a bad year, you're going to have a bad year," Zeron said. "But Casie doesn't have bad years. She has the power behind her and she's a great trainer. That's why it's not hard to stick with a horse of the quality he is." And Zeron is proving himself to be a quality driver -- one who will be in much more demand, regardless of his age.