by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Rick Zeron was sitting behind the favorites in both splits of the Willowdale Pacing Series last night at Woodbine. But both Mysticism (also trained by Zeron) and Handsome Harry (conditioned by Joey Shea) came up short – Handsome Harry by a mere neck – leaving the 53-year-old reinsman holding steady at 6994 lifetime wins.

Sunday afternoon, however, has been a different story, with Zeron scoring immediately in the second leg of the Lifetime Dream Series for 4-year-old trotting mares, behind Margarita Mary, an Andover Hall mare he trains for Alton Lynch and Steve Elliott. He followed that up with another win in the third race, steering the 3-year-old pacing gelding, Unicorn Hanover, to a 4-1/2 length victory for trainer Mark Ford and owner Ed Mullinax, and capped off the card with an eight-length triumph in the ninth tilt partnered with My Fine Ingot, a 6-year-old pacing gelding owned and trained by Anthony Montini.

Zeron’s career total now stands at 6997 lifetime wins, just three short of the 7000 milestone. He is slated to drive another eight horses on Monday night at Woodbine, giving him plenty of chances to reach his goal.