by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — There’s really no other way to put it. Scott Zeron is optimistic when it comes to driving Marion Marauder.

The Canadian-based trotter drew post six in his $153,250 division of Saturday’s (July 16) Stanley Dancer Memorial for 3-year-old male trotters at the Meadowlands Racetrack and will not have to contend with Hambletonian favorite Southwind Frank, who is in the opposite division. Marion Marauder finished second to Southwind Frank four times last season.

Marion Marauder is the 5-2 morning line favorite in his Dancer division, with Jimmy Takter-trained Bar Hopping the 3-1 second choice from post nine in the 11-horse field that will go 1-1/8 miles.

“I think the Stanley Dancer looks great,” Zeron said of the prep race for the $1 million Hambletonian on Aug. 6 at the Meadowlands. “He couldn’t be coming into the race any better. Last week when we were just in an overnight to make sure he got prepped for the Dancer, he finished guns a blazin’, splitting horses. I didn’t have to pull the earplugs and he was as strong as he’s ever been going across the wire. I’m excited, and he’s lightly raced so he’s fresh.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Marion Marauder has won four of 17 career races and earned $404,862.

Marion Marauder has won three of four races this year, including the Goodtimes Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on June 18. A week ago, he started from post nine in a 3-year-old open at the Meadowlands and stormed home from last place in :26.3 to finish second-placed-first when Jack Vernon made a break and was eventually placed ninth.

Owned by Marion Jean Wellwood and Devin Keeling and trained by Paula Wellwood, Marion Marauder has won four of 17 career races and earned $404,862. As a 2-year-old, he won once in 13 starts but finished second five times and third three times.

“Last year he had a few quirks,” Zeron said. “He didn’t like going up to the gate. If he did, you had to follow another horse and then slide him onto the gate at the last second. So that was the main reason we never positioned him in a winnable spot last year. He was always a little too far back. We did what we had to do with the quirks we were working with.”

Those issues have been resolved this year, not to mention the fact that Marion Marauder has gotten substantially bigger.

“I don’t usually see a big difference from (ages) 2 to 3,” Zeron said. “Not a lot of them get a lot of size and mass to them like I’ve seen him do this year. That’s going to be a great thing, we’re going to need that for two heats in the Hambo.”

Since the Stanley Dancer attracted 11 starters in each division, it will be contested at 1-1/8 miles rather than the traditional one-mile distance. That added distance is another reason Zeron feels good about his horse.

“I think it helps me,” said Zeron, who leads all drivers at the Meadowlands in wins with 70 this year. “If he was a stone cold frontrunner I think it’d be terrible. But the fact that my horse likes coming off the pace, it’s good. The further he goes in the mile, the better he picks up his speed. It’s better suited to me.

“Obviously having trailers is never a good thing but I’m perfectly fine with the extra eighth. I’m not worried about it being harder for him to win. I feel like it’s a little easier for him to win.”

Of course, it’s not like Zeron would complain if Marion Marauder got out front.

“But so far I like him a little bit better following the helmet,” he added. “I almost feel like he slowly starts to build up his speed the further in the mile he goes. His last quarter is always going to be his best quarter.”

Zeron has driven Marion Marauder in eight of his career starts, including second-place finishes to Southwind Frank in last year’s William Wellwood Memorial and Breeders Crown.

“So far the trips have been working out,” Zeron said. “We’re being patient with him, trying to have him in the right situation heading home, and he’ll always give you everything he’s got. It’s always nice driving a trotter who’s good gaited, well mannered and lets me do whatever I want with him. He’s very easy for me to drive.”

As for not getting another shot at Southwind Frank in the Stanley Dancer, Zeron is not complaining. He hopes it will materialize a few weeks down the road. Southwind Frank, trained by Ron Burke and driven by Yannick Gingras, is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the first of the two Dancer divisions.

“Any time you can miss one of the favorites, it’s good for all of us,” he said. “To beat Southwind Frank, if we have to do it on Hambo Day than that’s the time we’ll try to do it. But it’s perfectly fine he’s in a separate division. By the same token, my horse isn’t a frontrunner. I’m not saying he can’t do it, but horses like Southwind Frank, when they’re in a race they push it and that’s always a good thing.”

It seems everything about Marion Marauder is a good thing where Zeron is concerned.

“He’s given me no inkling as to why he would be not capable of winning (on Saturday) and I feel like he’s only gotten that much better every start he’s raced this year,” he said. “The extra eighth should be suited for him. Everything is prepping into solid form for the Hambo and I’m excited about it.”

It’s not hard to tell.

ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
A look at open stakes for 3-year-old male trotters
and state-restricted stakes featuring Hambletonian eligibles
Date – Track – Event – First – Second – Third
May 7 – Freehold – Dexter Cup – Dante – Cufflink Hanover – Credevie
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Tyson – Edinburgh – Will Self
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Mikkeli Hanover – Granite State – Marion Gondolier
May 7 – Pocono – PA All Stars – Hititoutofthepark – Lagerfeld – Cloud Nine Hanover
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Cufflink Hanover – Love Matters – Southern Cross
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Truemass Volo – Marion Gondolier – Hanks Tank
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Milligan’s School – Hititoutofthepark – Desert Runner
May 14 – Meadows – PASS – Lagerfeld – Tyson – Hollywood Highway
May 20 – Meadowlands – NJSS – Southwind Frank – Brooklyn Hill – Bar Hopping
May 21 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Iron Mine Bucky – Steed – Hititoutofthepark
May 21 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Cufflink Hanover – Hollywood Highway – Truemass Volo
May 27 – Meadowlands – NJSS – Mavens Way – Jack Vernon – Double L Lindy
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Hollywood Highway – Taco Tuesday – Sliding Home
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Lagerfeld – Truemass Volo – Dupree
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Milligan’s School – Reigning Moni – Iron Mine Bucky
June 2 – Philadelphia – PASS – Love Matters – Tight Lines – Alexander Hanover
June 4 – Meadowlands – NJSS Final – Southwind Frank – Brooklyn Hill – Mavens Way
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Love Matters – Taco Tuesday – Desert Runner
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Trolley – Lagerfeld – Cufflink Hanover
June 12 – Pocono – PASS – Hititoutofthepark – Hollywood Highway – Dupree
June 18 – Mohawk – Goodtimes – Marion Marauder – Will Take Charge – Blenheim
June 19 – Vernon – Empire Breeders Classic – Dante – Just For Today – Thats A Bad Boy
June 26 – Buffalo – NYSS – The Royal Harry – Crazycat – A Jersey Contract
July 1 – Tioga – Tompkins-Geers – Dominion Beach – Cufflink Hanover – Waitlifter K
July 1 – Tioga – Tompkins-Geers – Hititoutofthepark – Blownoutofthewater – Steed
July 2 – Pocono – Beal Memorial – Southwind Frank – Trolley – Bar Hopping
July 14 – Yonkers – NYSS – Dante – The Royal Harry – Credevie
Hambletonian eligible winners in bold