The youngest driver to ever compete in Canada's richest harness racing event, driving the longest shot on the board - a horse he'll sit behind for the first time - Scott Zeron could not be more thrilled

with his drive aboard Illinois invader Dutch Richman in Saturday night's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack.

With 304 wins on the season and a national best 606 tallies in 2010, Zeron, who turned 22 in May, has shown the poise and skill of a more seasoned driver. His age and experience has yet to get in his way of success in harness racing, and he doesn't plan on letting it affect how he approaches the first million-dollar drive of his young career.

"Being the youngest doesn't ever play a factor to me, it doesn't matter how young I am or how experienced I am," said the Oakville, Ont. resident. "Being in it is just the best opportunity in the world and hopefully I can prove I deserve to be in it for years to come."

Zeron seized the opportunity after Tim Tetrick qualified two horses for trainer Erv Miller - Shadyshark Hanover and Dutch Richman - leaving one horse short a driver.

"I had a fourth and fifth place finish and I knew my horses weren't going to make the final," Zeron told Trot Insider. "I realized Erv Miller had two horses make the final and Tim couldn't drive both so I went over to him right away and said, 'You know, Erv, if no one wants to drive your horse in the final I'd love to drive him'. So I just joked around with him - I drive a couple of horses for Erv - and he gave me the call Monday morning and said, 'I'd love if you could drive him'."

Saturday's drive will fulfill a lifelong dream for the talented teamster.

"When I hung up the phone with Erv, I looked over at my mom - I live at home with my family - and I said, 'I'm in the North America Cup,' and that is the one race that I've always wanted to be in, let alone hopefully getting a win."

The young reinsman got a good first-hand look at Dutch Richman after the speedy Richess Hanover gelding qualified in third place just ahead of Zeron's Townslight Hanover.

"I was right in along him watching him the whole way down the backstretch and around the last turn," noted Zeron. "The race didn't set up great for a backfield horse to win it and he paced home probably as fast as he could move his legs. I know he's got nine out of nine in the top three finishes so I know he tries hard."

At odds of 30-1 and starting from Post 9, Zeron is well aware that he and Dutch Richman will have to do more than just try hard to beat the likes of Big Jim, Up The Credit, Powerful Mist and Big Bad John.

"Post 9 is definitely a hindrance, that's for sure, but hopefully we're going to drive conservative, be a little patient. Hopefully there's some front-end speed in there that will come back to me in the end and we'll gobble them up. There's no complete standout; they're all great horses."