by Joe Hartmann, for the Breeders Crown

Campbellville, ON — Rick Zeron has never been the shy and retiring type and no one expects a change any time soon.

Zeron, 48, of Oakville, Ontario, continues to be one of the top drivers on the Woodbine-Mohawk circuit, a solid fifth in the driving statistics and among the top trainers in dash victories as well.

He has resided among the top 25 in North American driver earnings in six of the past seven seasons and has career totals of more than $60 million as well as 6,500 career victories.

But one thing that has eluded Zeron in a career that has spanned more than 30 years is a Breeders Crown championship.

Though he’s been second twice, Zeron has not had a Breeders Crown champion in 11 starts. His best finish as a trainer was a second place effort when Soulful Hanover was edged by Aviano in the 2000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.

He thinks all that might change Saturday night in the Breeders Crown Mare Trot, one of the four championship events for harness racing’s senior competitors.

Zeron will send out John Cowan and Darryl Laver’s Spare Time Rozie and the veteran reinsman is extremely excited about his chances.

“She is just a great mare,” Zeron said from the Campbellville Training Center on Tuesday. “She leaves everything out there on the track. I really didn’t know what I was getting when Darryl (Laver) sent her to me last fall. But we took her out one start at Georgian Downs and all she did was go out and tie the track record.

Laver has been a trainer for more than 20 years and had five victories in 2006 as the trainer of Spare Time Rozie before sending her to Zeron to compete at the next level.

“She closes like a bandit,” Zeron said. “I am hoping that they mix it up on the front end Saturday night and then I can come from off the pace and collect all the pieces.”