Driver Scott Zeron has returned to begin what he hopes will be another successful season. Last year's Driver of the Year was in action last weekend (March 1-2) at the Meadowlands and once again finds himself in the bike on Saturday with six drives at the East Rutherford, New Jersey, track. "I was glad to get that first win out of the way," said Zeron, referring to veteran Ideal Feeling's victory last Saturday night. "You never know how long you can go with an 0-for." Ideal Feeling returns to action on Saturday in the sixth race, and Zeron is more than optimistic about his chances. "I actually think it's a drop in class," said Zeron of the 9-year-old's placement on Saturday. "He's a veteran that knows his way around the track." Ideal Feeling posted a seasonal-best 1:50 3/5 mile clocking in his victory last week and faces just seven rivals this week, starting between them from post five. Zeron's return to the Meadowlands is the beginning of his season, but he's looking forward to the coming stakes season and will adjust his schedule accordingly. "I'm going to race at Yonkers in the Blue Chip Matchmaker on Fridays," Zeron said. "I'll be at the Meadowlands on Saturday nights and then at Yonkers on Monday for the Borgata [beginning March 18]." Zeron is also leaving the door ajar to race more often at Yonkers if given the opportunity but stressed how difficult it can be to get quality drives there on a regular basis. For Zeron, there are without question two seasons, and his absence for the past three months has been a constant in his life and a necessity. "It's nice to go back to an easier schedule where you don't have to be up early and calling the judges and you can eat three meals a day," said Zeron, describing the down time. "I'm able to get back in the gym to get into shape for the coming year." Last year was Zeron's finest to some degree, and it came as he followed the paths of a couple of sophomores, with Dan Patch winner and Hambletonian champion Tactical Approach leading an arsenal that included North America Cup champion It's My Show. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Yet, as is generally the case at this time of year, Zeron had no idea in March of 2023 what was ahead of him. "I really didn't know much about Tactical Approach at this time," said Zeron. "[Trainer] Nancy [Takter] called me and thought she had a nice colt but that was it. As far as It's My Show, I drove him before I got hurt when he was a 2-year-old and really liked the horse, so it wasn't a surprise to see how he would race." Trainer Linda Toscano has been a force behind many of Zeron's opportunities in major stakes races for some time and again the team will pair up on Saturday night when he guides Dyladmar, a 4-year-old by Muscle Hill, in the third race. "That was the first time sitting behind him in the qualifier and he felt good and ready for racing," said Zeron, looking forward to Saturday's first start. Dyladmar drew post five in a conditioned event for non-winners of $7,500 and will be making his debut for Toscano, but has connections Zeron is more than familiar with. In 2011 Linda Toscano sent the Mach Three-sired Machapelo to trainer Paula Wellwood to race in freshman Ontario Sires Stakes. Zeron got to drive the colt that year, winning the Battle Of Waterloo at an astonishing 26-1, the kind of long odds Zeron has since made a trademark of his own success story. Zeron, of course, drove Wellwood's Marion Marauder to a Triple Crown title in 2016 for Paula Wellwood. Toscano will also send out Fourever Boy on Saturday night with Zeron sitting behind the 5-year-old by Sweet Lou for just the second time. "I drove him once last year in the Breeders Crown elimination but by that time of the year he wasn't much good," said Zeron, who hopes for better success this week and looking forward. "He's freshened up and he'll be heading to Yonkers for the Borgata," said Zeron of Fourever Boy, a $937K career winner that has been handled throughout his career by trainer and co-owner Tim Twaddle. According to Zeron, Twaddle is also sending Treacherous Penny eastbound for the Blue Chip Matchmaker. The 4-year-old Captaintreacherous-sired mare exhibited half-mile track prowess towards the end of her sophomore season, defeating older mares at MGM Northfield Park in late December. Treacherous Penny will make her season's debut Friday (March 8) at Yonkers. In addition to Fourever Boy, Zeron hopes to have two others going in the Borgata with Linedrive Hanover, another Toscano protégé, perhaps giving him the most power. "He was super qualifying the other day," said Zeron of the now-6-year-old son of Betting Line. Linedrive Hanover was last seen at Yonkers finishing fourth in the Aria Invitational behind Bythemissal and Allywag Hanover. Zeron also singled out last year's quality 2-year-old filly Allegiant as a horse he's eager to drive this year as a sophomore. She's a daughter of Tactical Landing that Zeron guided to a third-place finish in last year's Mohawk Million for trainer Vernon Beachy.