"He was just a phenomenal animal last year, he just didn't have his head on right in some circumstances. And to that, he never really drew that great...it was just a bunch of bad racing luck."

In 2012, Scott Zeron was coming into the North America Cup eliminations with a highly-talented pacing colt. Michaels Power didn't make the final after just missing in his elim, and Zeron hasn't forgotten.

"Last year was, to me, one of the most disappointing races I've ever been in. All I had to do with be top five with Michaels Power and I decided to sit the two hole. I got locked in the entire way and it was quite rough for me to deal with but I've learned from last year to this year that we're not going to getting locked in along the rail."

Fast forward one year and Zeron's got another chance at Canada's richest pacing prize with a head-on-straight Vegas Vacation, who was extremely game in his 1:49 Cup elimination for trainer Casie Coleman last weekend at Mohawk. The brown sophomore is a perfect four-for-four in 2013 for the ownership group of the West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ontario, Adriano Sorella of Milton, Ontario, Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, Ontario, and Phyllis Saunders of Hamilton, Ontario.

"This is my hometown race, it's been the one race that I've been able to attend every year and always get to see these amazing horses race. Purse aside, it's the biggest race that I've ever wanted to win and this year having that horse that has that opportunity to do it, it's quite surreal."

Zeron and Vegas Vacation will leave from Post 2 and have been chosen as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. While Zeron feels this field is very even and that "every single horse has a great shot at this one", one advantage that Zeron has over other drivers is that he has sat behind two horses that have solid shots at winning major money on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

"I've had the pleasure of driving a couple of the other horses that are in this race. I've driven Fool Me Once at the beginning of this year, so I know a lot about him but all last year I was able to drive Wake Up Peter and I know what he's capable of doing. I think he's the dark horse."

To hear the full interview with Borg and Zeron, including Zeron's thoughts on making a move to drive in the United States, click the play button below.

Trot Radio - Episode 297 - Scott Zeron

Audio Format: MP3 audio

Host: Norm Borg

Pepsi North America Cup night will not only feature some of, if not the best harness racing in Canada this year, but also loads of contests, draws, music and entertainment for fans on track at Mohawk.

Every customer can register on site for a free $2 bet. There will be free commemorative NA Cup posters given away and you can have it signed at the driver’s autograph session from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

There will be a draw for the Pepsi Best Seats at the Track and you can take the Pepsi Taste Challenge for a chance to win a BBQ set valued at $2,000.

Visit Labatt’s Beerville to play great games and win cool prizes.

There will be a $100,000 guaranteed Early Pick 4, and HPI members will receive four times the HPI points when you wager on Mohawk at Mohawk on Pepsi NA Cup night.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.

For free, printable program pages for Pepsi North America Cup Night courtesy of TrackIT, click here.

First-race post time for Saturday's card is 7:05 p.m. The $1-million Pepsi North America Cup has been carded as Race 7.

The Woodbine Entertainment Group has signed a deal with Sportsnet to air the NA Cup on The Score. The one-hour broadcast, a joint production between WEG and Sportsnet, is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (EDT). It will be the first time that a standardbred race will be shot and aired live in high-definition (HD) in Canada.

(Photo courtesy New Image Media)