Harrah's Philadelphia: Zeron looks to shine on 'Super Sunday'

Sunday's super stakes program at Harrah's Philadelphia features three $100,000 contests – Maxie Lee Memorial for open trotters, Betsy Ross for pacing mares and Joseph Auger Memorial for open pacers. Driver Scott Zeron will be present in two of those but also has a top sophomore prospect named It's My Show going in one of the more competitive Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events on the 15-race program.

In the $100,000 Betsy Ross (race 11), Zeron guides Treacherous Dragon for trainer Nancy Takter, and the 4-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous landed post five in a star-studded field, but her driver is extremely confident.

"She was good in her last race," said Zeron, pointing to a second-place finish in an Open event over the same surface. "I had to use her very hard to get the lead from post eight and she fought to the wire."

Treacherous Dragon has been second in all three of her starts this year but could be ready to break the ice with the mid-pack post draw.

"She's been strong each time I've raced her and is as good racing in front or from off-the-pace," Zeron said. That kind of maneuverability could work to Zeron's advantage in a field that has 2023 Blue Chip Matchmaker champion Amazing Dream N (post four) to his inside and 2022 Blue Chip Matchmaker champion Drama Act (post six) to his outside.

Adding a significant amount of class to the field is the presence of Niki Hill, undefeated as a 4-year-old for trainer Chris Ryder. Niki Hill drew post eight and will have Todd McCarthy subbing for regular pilot Dexter Dunn, who is in Sweden for the Elitloppet.

The 12th race Maxie Lee finds last year's champion Lovedbythemasses looking for his first victory in 2023 for trainer Jeff Cullipher. Lovedbythemasses landed post eight in the field, one spot further out than he drew for last year's Lee Memorial.

Also returning for the Lee Memorial this year are the second and third place finishers – Hillexotic (post four) and Amigo Volo (post two) - from 2022. The former was a very solid fourth in the Cutler Memorial last Saturday (May 20) at the Meadowlands for trainer Ron Burke and enters the Lee with three wins and three seconds in 2023. Amigo Volo finished a solid second behind It's Academic in his prep for the race on May 14 at Harrah's Philadelphia.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Zeron wasn't overly thrilled with his post draw behind Red Right Hand in the $100,000 Joseph Augur Memorial carded as race 13 on Sunday.

"There's a lot of speed inside, especially Ruthless Hanover," said Zeron, reflecting upon his post seven starting position. "He was really sharp in his last start."

Red Right Hand finished third behind Auger entrant South Beach Star last time, coming from off-the-pace into a 53 3/5 final half. A 1:48 1/5 winner as a 4-year-old in 2022, Red Right Hand was a winner in 1:49 3/5 in his season's debut on April 15 at the Meadowlands.

The Auger Memorial has a well-matched field that includes MGM Borgata Pacing Series final surprise winner Hellabalou (post two), a 5-year-old son of Sweet Lou looking to regain winning form following a fifth- and sixth-place finish in his last two outings at Yonkers.

Borgata finalist Lochinvar Art A makes his first appearance at Harrah's Philadelphia for trainer Shane Tritton and his wife/driver Lauren. With five wins in 10 starts this year, Lochinvar Art A has been a model of consistency. The 8-year-old by Modern Art landed post three.

Ruthless Hanover has won three of four races this year for trainer Tom Cancelliere, including a powerful 1:49 3/5 effort on May 19 preparing for the Auger. George Napolitano Jr. has been the regular pilot behind the 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere and will be in the bike Sunday from post four.

South Beach Star had a four-race win streak snapped on May 19 at Harrah's Philadelphia by Ruthless Hanover and looks to rebound for trainer Mark Silva in the Auger. South Beach Star starts from post five.

On the undercard, It's My Show (post four) will meet last year's Breeders Crown champion Ammo (post two) in the first of three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. "[Owner] Richard [Young] decided to geld him and that's been the biggest difference," said Zeron of It's My Show. "He's been great in every start."

It's My Show captured his first stakes event of the season on May 21 at Pocono while making numerous moves before drawing clear in a 1:49 2/5 mile.

"His first two wins were pretty easy with slow fractions and him out-sprinting the rest," Zeron said. "Last week [May 21] it was a different story because I moved him a few times and they were going solid fractions throughout the mile."

While the circumstances within the race may have been different, the outcome was the same, leading Zeron to conclude, "I think he's one of the best 3-year-olds out there."

Ammo is also unbeaten this year following his Sire Stakes victory on May 21. The Sweet Lou-sired colt landed post two in the afternoon's third race. Ammo was a 52-1 winner in the Breeders Crown for freshman male pacers last fall at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning for trainer Joe Holloway in a 1:50 4/5 clocking.

The pair of standout 3-year-olds hook up in race three, the first $51,583 Sire Stakes split. The other divisions go as races five and nine, with the latter featuring the Ken Hanover, the fastest sophomore in the sport right now with a 1:49 win on the May 21st Pocono card. Trained and co-owned by Roland Mallar, the colt is perfect in four starts this year.

The afternoon program at Harrah's Philadelphia gets underway at 12:40 P.M. (EDT) and includes a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4 in race 10.