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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 30 ,2 01 8 | 90 Atlanta raced down the home stretch, setting a pace that was among the fastest ever seen in 93 years at theever seen in 93 years at thee Hambletonian. Trainer Rick Zeron has been to the winner's circle more than 10,000 times but as he watched the three-year- old filly, he had never felt quite like this. "I think my heart was pounding faster than the horse's," the 61-year-old har- ness racing veteran said. "So many horsemen, people who live and breath racing, they dream of winning the Ham- bletonian. It's the Holy Grail of racing." From a strictly profes- sional standpoint, it would be tough to beat Atlanta's victo- ry last Saturday at Meadow- lands Raceway. And yet Ze- ron couldn't have imagined a day like this as he watched Atlanta's driver pump his fist repeatedly as the horse crossed the finish line. The driver that delivered the biggest win of Zeron's ca- reer had been hanging around the track since he was a kid, not so patiently biding his time jogging hors- es until the day he could race. He grew up in a racing fami- ly, and though his parents in-ly, and though his parents in-l sisted he continue his educa- tion after high school, being a driver was all he wanted to do. He finally got his chance when he was 16, and once hewhen he was 16, and once hew finished school, it was impos-finished school, it was impos-f sible to get him off the track. He started 3,104 races in one season, often making starts at one track in the afternoonat one track in the afternoona and then rushing to another to race in the evening. Packing a lifetime of expe- rience into the early years of his career accelerated his de- velopment.velopment.v "He's a world-class driv- er," Zeron said. "Anybody would be more than happy towould be more than happy tow have him driving their horse." Of course, Zeron admits he may be a little biased when it comes to his son. Butwhen it comes to his son. Butw then few drivers can boast a resumé like Scott Zeron's. The Hambletonian win was his second, having guid- ed Marion Marauder to vic- tory in 2016. He followed up that with wins at the Yonkers Trot and the Kentucky Futu- rity to become just the eighth - and youngest - driver to cap- ture the trotting Triple Crown. By that time he was already the youngest to win pacing's premier event, the Little Brown Jug, in 2012. It was Scott that con- vinced his dad to enter Atlan- ta in the Hambletonian. In 2011, Rick had driven Lady Rainbow to a second-place finish in the Hambletonianfinish in the Hambletonianf Oaks, the premier event for fillies. And they would havefillies. And they would havef all but assured themselves of a victory in the Oaks. But Scott said Atlanta, the best horse he had ever driv- en, was destined for great- ness. It had been 22 years since a filly won the Hamble- tonian, but the 29-year-old was convinced Atlanta could do it. "It is the pinnacle. Giving up the Hambletonian Oaks was a big leap of faith," Scott said. "I sit behind so many good horses, I know what they're capable of. I just felt she had no boundaries." Rick Zeron saw some- thing special when he bought Atlanta, along with four partners, for $60,000 at a year- ling sale. Now he was getting confirmation of that from the driver he trusted the most. "Scott said she was good enough to put her in with the boys, so we did," Rick said. The Hambletonian fea- tures two elimination races, with the top five horses in each advancing to the final. Scott Zeron took Atlanta to the front in the first elim- ination and set a blazing pace until the homestretch, when she was chased down by Crystal Fashion, handing At- lanta her first loss of the sea- son. Zeron blamed himself for the late fade, but he said it showed him just how good Atlanta is. "Other horses are work- ing so hard (during a race), and she was so effortless and smooth," he said. "I didn't even realize we were going soeven realize we were going soe fast."fast."f In the final, Zeron again took Atlanta to the front. This time he controlled the pace through the middle part of the race, allowing the two elimination winners, Tacti- cal Landing and Crystal Fashion, to close within striking distance. But nei- ther would have enough left for a challenge as Zeron letfor a challenge as Zeron letf Atlanta go rounding the final turn. With more than 18,000With more than 18,000W fans rising to their feet, thefans rising to their feet, thef only filly in the field crossed the line in 1:50:48, the third fastest time in the history of afastest time in the history of af race that has been run every year since 1926.year since 1926.y "There was so much ex- citement," Scott said. "I knew she was capable of it and I was so happy she did it. When you make a bold state-When you make a bold state-W ment that you're going to win with a filly, you feel you have to defend that. I just wanted everyone to see how good sheeveryone to see how good shee was." For Rick Zeron, it was theFor Rick Zeron, it was theF highlight of his 43-year ca- reer in harness racing. "It's an honour and a dream come true to win the Hambletonian," the two-time O'Brien Award of Horseman- ship winner said. "To have your son in back, it's like 55your son in back, it's like 55y dreams come true. It was the thrill of a lifetime." The family connection made the victory that much sweeter for the younger Ze-sweeter for the younger Ze-s ron as well. "It's the greatest win ever. I've won huge, pres- tigious races, but they've nev- er been for my father. He's at the root of it all. He's been so instrumental in my success," Scott said. "And we did it." WINNING HARNESS' HOLY GRAIL A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR ZERONS HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com COMMUNITY Scott and Rick Zeron are all smiles as they await an interview with CBS Sports following their win at the Hambletonian. It was the second win for Scott, who captured the Triple Crown in 2006, and the first for his dad, the co-owner and trainer of Atlanta. Deuce