Driver Scott Zeron enjoyed a sensational night at the office in a return to his old stomping grounds, winning the finals of both the 2024 Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Its My Show put on a brilliant show in a thrilling edition of the $540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby on Saturday evening, Aug. 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. 

El Rey (Louis-Philippe Roy) showed the way early, popping to the front soon after the starting car zipped away from the field of 10 (Ruthless Hanover was scratched) as Scott Zeron, in rein to Its My Show, settled the four-year-old gelding into second. Huntinthelastdolar (Yannick Gingras), Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) and mutuel choice Abuckabaett Hanover (Dexter Dunn) rounded out the top five through an opening quarter in :26.

Voukefalas took aim at the leader and struck front ahead of a lively :53.4 half, with El Rey in second, Its My Show, under a patient drive from Zeron, along the rail in third, and Abuckabett Hanover in fourth and on the move.

Voukefalas was clinging to a precarious lead after the third quarter mark in 1:21.1, as Abuckabett Hanover amped up the pressure to his outside. El Rey was still in the hunt and Oakwood Ardan IR (Andrew McCarthy) looked to enter the fray.

Zeron, meanwhile, was searching for a seam midway down the lane.

After finding daylight, Its My Show powered through along the inside and bested a game Abuckabett Hanover by a nose for all the spoils in 1:48.1. Oakwood Ardan IR was third with El Rey fourth and Hemsworth N (Jody Jamieson) closing from last at the half to round out the top five finish order.

Winning a big race together at Woodbine Mohawk Park is nothing new for Zeron, trainer Linda Toscano and the son of Sweet Lou-Put On A Show, who teamed to take last year’s Pepsi North America Cup by a head.

"I was sitting where I wanted to, I just needed to have a little luck to get loose,” said Zeron, who earned his first Canadian Pacing Derby crown. “And you know, anybody in the grandstand could drive this horse. He's so handy. And when he zipped through, he got excited. So, it was a great start and an amazing finish from him.”

Toscano wasn’t certain Its My Show got to the wire first.

“I really thought that he was coming hard. It would have been an awful tough beat because he was really pacing hard to the wire. But I didn't think we got there,” admitted Toscano.

She was happy to be wrong.

“He does love this track. He likes everything about it up here. He's relaxed. He just sits about his business and he likes a long stretch.”

With the win, his first since a victory at Oak Grove on May 6, Its My Show is now 11-8-3 from 35 starts, to go along with more than $1.7 million in career earnings for owners and breeders Richard Young of Boca Raton, Florida and Joanne Young of Coconut Creek, Florida.

Zeron lauded the bay pacer for his grit and gumption.

“Sometimes, he just tells me, ‘Hey, ease up a little bit and give me a little caretaking trip.’ And when you do something like that, he gives me a result like that.”

A $2 win ticket on Its My Show returned $16.30. 

One race after guiding Its My Show to Canadian Pacing Derby glory, Zeron changed gaits and delivered another sterling steer to take all the spoils as Periculum powered home with authority to win the $600,000 Maple Leaf Trot.

Logan Park (Doug McNair) blasted off the wings and drove to the front, followed by the trio of Fashion Frenzie (Roy), Osceola (Trevor Henry), and M Ms Dream (David Miller) into the first turn.

Logan Park was on top by 1-1/2 lengths through an opening panel in :26.3, but M Ms Dream, unable to find a seat, drove on and challenged the leader, who refused to yield and took his rivals to the half in :54.1. Zeron and Periculum, the 3-5 choice, patiently tracked the pacesetters from seventh, even without having seen the pylons.

Hitting three-quarters in 1:22.4, Logan Park looked to dash away from his foes, as Hillexotic (Jody Jamieson) and Periculum arrived on the scene.

A game Logan Park dug in along the rail, but five-year-old Periculum was in full flight and full of trot, going on to secure a two-plus length score over stablemate Oh Well (Dexter Dunn). Logan Park was third and Hillexotic took fourth.

“I really didn’t want to get in a speed duel up front,” explained Zeron. “Not being on the pylons wasn’t the end of the world. It was more about trying to get some nice flow, and obviously it was a hot tempo up front, so I was happy where it was in the last turn.

“I had a great post [five], so, I felt like I had options no matter what. And you know, I could see the writing on the wall a little early. There’s going to be a lot of speed. And I just didn't want to have to be that one, or the one that was first up early. I was happy with where I was situated.”

The evening was about as good as it gets for Zeron.

“This is where I grew up racing, to come here and do this with some good horses and for good connections, it’s a fun experience.”

As it was for all those associated with Periculum.

Owned by Brixton Medical Inc. and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. and trained by Marcus Melander, the bay breezed into the Maple Leaf Trot final off a similarly strong score in his elimination last week, with Zeron in the sulky for the first time, when they won by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:51.2.

On this night, Periculum was once again at the top of his game.

“He had no cover there for a while, and it helped that it was :54 to the half, and good tempo up there, but he looked like he did it easy,” said Melander, who also won the 2018 Maple Leaf Trot with Crazy Wow.

“He feels like he's in a really good form, actually. He had a really good week, and I wasn't surprised that he raced good.”

Bred by Order By Stable AB out of Boras, Sweden, the well-travelled trotter, who competed in the Scandinavian country last year, was a $340,000 purchase at the 2020 Lexington Select Yearling Sale.

With the Maple Leaf victory, the biggest of his career to date, the son of Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress is now 11-4-6 from 43 starts, to go along with over $863,000 in lifetime earnings.

He paid $3.30 for the victory. 

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(With files from Woodbine)