Peach Martini delivered a commanding performance at Flamboro Downs on Friday night to kick off the two-year-old trotting fillies’ Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series season

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With Oakville, ON resident Rick Zeron in the race bike, Peach Martini eased away from Post 2 into fifth spot as Some Like It Hot (Lyle MacArthur) led the Gold elimination field to a :28.2 opening quarter. Heading past the grandstand, Zeron gave Flamboro fans an up close look at their favoured choice as he tipped Peach Martini out three-wide and started to reel in the leader, who posted a :59.3 half.

By the 1:30 three-quarters Peach Martini had moved into third, five lengths behind Some Like It Hot, and turning for home barely a length separated the two fillies. Maintaining her momentum off the turn, Peach Martini sailed down the stretch to a one length victory in 2:02.1, while Some Like It Hot faded back to fifth.

Walked Into Heaven (Paul MacDonell) closed well off an outside trip to claim the runner-up honours, with Lady Love (Paul MacLean) hot on her heels in third. Fourth-place finisher Julie Labelle (Steve Condren) also earned an invitation to next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.

Zeron trains and drives Peach Martini for his partners Michael Katz of Thornhill, ON, Stephen Waldman of Toronto, ON and Rojan Stables of Wilmington, Delaware. The group offered up $25,000 for the daughter of Striking Sahbra and Armbro Martini at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale based on her conformation and breeding. Among the filly’s half-siblings are $397,697 winner Cordial Martini and $169,235 winner Nomireatras.

Following a carefully mapped out schedule, Zeron qualified Peach Martini twice in preparation for her Ontario Sires Stakes debut, circling the Mohawk Racetrack oval in a runner-up 2:02.2 on June 19 and a victorious 2:00.3 on July 2.

Luvumeanit had just one qualifier under her belt before Friday’s Gold elimination, but the Here Comes Herbie daughter behaved like a seasoned veteran. Starting from Post 5 with Cambridge, ON resident Jody Jamieson at the helm, Luvumeanit settled into fourth and was content to coast along while Dancin Darlin carved out fractions of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:32.

Swinging out of the final turn Dancin Darlin (Jack Moiseyev) made a break and Jamieson shifted Luvumeanit into high gear. The filly responded with a sharp finishing sprint that propelled her from fourth to first in a 2:02.3 clocking. My Whispering Eye (James MacDonald) also closed hard to finish second, one and a half lengths behind the leader, with Honey Thorn (Steve Condren) another half length back in third. All three fillies are by new Ontario sire Here Comes Herbie. Extraordinaire (Wayne Henry) wrapped up the final spot in the July 23 Gold Final from fourth.

Hillsburgh, ON resident Jeff Gillis trains Luvumeanit for Martinez Equine of Wellsville, Pennsylvania. Gillis qualified the homebred at Mohawk Racetrack on July 2, where she cruised along to a second-place finish in 2:03.1.

Luvumeanit and Peach Martini will square off in their very first $130,000 Gold Final next Friday, July 23 at Flamboro Downs, along with the fillies who finished second, third and fourth in each $40,000 elimination.

To view Friday's results, click here.

(With files from OSS)