Harness racing’s glamour boys, the three-year-old pacers, will battle it out in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on Saturday, June 4 at Mohawk Racetrack

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In the key stakes prep race for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the Murray Brethour-trained Drain Daddy will be looking to make his late owner proud.

Longtime owner and breeder, Stephen Scarff, passed away from cancer Saturday, May 14 in Halifax at the age of 69.

For many years, veteran trainer/driver Rick Zeron has had a strong partnership with the Halifax owner. Zeron has trained numerous horses for Scarff and is Drain Daddy’s regular pilot.

“Steve was a great guy,” he said. “He’s going to be greatly missed in the racing industry. You have no idea how many yearlings, weanlings and broodmares he had. He got into breeding his own livestock and he had tons and tons of horses.”

What made Scarff special was his love of racing. Whatever money he made, Zeron said he reinvested back into the sport. Scarff was a standardbred owner for almost 40 years and Zeron would like to see his legacy live on.

“I hope the horses will carry on and help the family keep some of the horses, to help keep the Steve Scarff tradition alive,” said the Oakville resident.

Scarff’s horses, like Drain Daddy, are now owned by his family under the Scarff Legacy Stables.

In 2010, Scarff made his first appearance as an owner in the Pepsi North America Cup elims with Mach Dreamer. On the road to the Cup, the homebred colt was third in what was then the Burlington Stakes (renamed the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes in 2011) and was sixth in his N.A. Cup elimination, which did not qualify him for the $1.5 million final.

Zeron alluded that it would be special for all involved if Drain Daddy makes it to the winner’s circle for the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes.

The bay’s road to the cup just got a bit easier as he won’t have to face Big Jim or Mystician on Saturday. Big Jim drew into the first division and trainer Jeff Gillis is giving Mystician a week off.

“I don’t know if he can get by them, but I think he can play along with them, if he doesn’t have the nine or 10 hole,” Zeron explained. “I know for sure that he can pace in (1:) 49. Never count him out. Hopefully Steve will reach down and talk to him in his ear.”

The son of Mach Three--Boy Meets Girl will go into Saturday’s featured races with a sophomore record of two wins and three second-place finishes in six starts and a bankroll of $41,350.

The Burlington Stakes debuted in 1964 and was renamed in 2011 after the renowned pacer, Somebeachsomewhere, who caught the nation’s attention by winning 20 races in 21 starts and showing exceptional speed with a 1:46.4 World Record-equalling mile at the Red Mile.

For a free, printable program for Mohawk's Saturday night program courtesy of TrackIT, click here.

The fields for the three divisions are listed below.

Division No. 1
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Ohmygosh Hanover - B. Miller
2 - Big Jim - Ph. Hudon
3 - Prodigal Seelster - Ra. Waples
4 - Rock To Glory - D. Miller
5 - Up The Credit - J. Jamieson
6 - Dreamfair Kovu - Ra. Waples
7 - Powerful Mist - TBA
8 - Big Time Rocks - S. Zeron

Division No. 2
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Lookinforadventure - B. Miller
2 - On The Radar - J. Jamieson
3 - Rockabillie - S. Filion
4 - Bestofbest Hanover - J. Moiseyev
5 - Drain Daddy - Ri. Zeron
6 - Just Asign To Me - T. Henry
7 - Mach It Big - J. Jamieson
8 - A And Gs Express - D. Miller

Division No. 3
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Roll With Joe - B. Sears
2 - Foreclosure N - S. Filion
3 - Mickey Hanover - J. Jamieson
4 - Shadyshark Hanover - Ti. Tetrick
5 - Watermelonwine - Ri. Zeron
6 - Eighteen - S. Filion
7 - Bettors Green - M. Baillargeon
8 - Betterthancheddar - B. Miller

(WEG)