Scott Zeron captured two of the three legs of the Trotting Triple Crown with Tactical Approach by finding room inside deep in the stretch. On Saturday night, Zeron tried a different approach and it paid off handsomely.
Zeron guided the son of Tactical Landing to a live third-over cover trip and he responded willingly in the homestretch to win the $672,000 Breeders Crown for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in a 1:51.2 mile.
Tactical Approach, trained by Nancy Takter, started from the second tier in post 10, making Zeron’s handling key to the outcome. With local favorite Helpfirstedition (John DeLong) making a few moves to gain control, Zeron managed to follow the cover of Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) and Celebrity Bambino (Yannick Gingras) before the half and that pair kept him in contention with an honest pace set by Helpfirstedition.
In the homestretch Tactical Approach, bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms, kicked into high gear, with Zeron asking him and the colt responding as he has all season long. Only Up Your Deo and driver Ake Svanstedt threatened in the deep stretch after finding room in the passing lane. Up Your Deo settled for second, beaten by 1-1/4 lengths, with French Wine (Andy Miller) coming on late for third ahead of Air Power (Mattias Melander) and Dire Straits (David Miller).
Now a winner in half of his 22 career starts, Tactical Approach, out of the mare Sarcy, increased his career bankroll to $1.35 million for owner Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing.
“On the opening turn, I was right where I wanted to be,” said Zeron of his driving strategy. “I was following two very nice horses.”
Owner Leblanc returned to the Breeders Crown winner’s circle and was ecstatic.
“What a horse, Scott put him in the perfect spot. He’s been in the top of his game since April,” Leblanc said.
The win gave Takter her second Breeders Crown of the weekend and 10th of her career. It was Zeron’s seventh trophy.
Tactical Approach, who earlier this year won the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity, paid $6 to win as the 2-1 favourite.
A replay of this race can be viewed as part of the archived Saturday card live stream, available here.
(Breeders Crown)