When you’re as good as Peach Martini is, not even the dreaded ten hole can stand in your way
. That’s the nasty blow the post position gods dealt the Rick Zeron-trained filly coming into Monday’s $130,000 O.S.S. Gold Series final for freshmen trotting lasses at Woodbine Racetrack.
After winning her elimination one week earlier in first-over fashion at Mohawk Racetrack, the daughter of Striking Sahbra-Armbro Martini closed from well off the pace on Monday evening en route to capturing her first Gold Series final of the year.
Peach Martini and Zeron landed into the six-hole while Extraordinaire (Wayne Henry) and L A Freeway (Paul MacDonell) battled to the quarter pole in :28.1 before the latter cleared to the top. Once in command, L A Freeway threw down middle panels of :57.3 and 1:27.2 before coming under heavy pressure from a fired-up Peach Martini.
Zeron and Peach Martini, who were sixth at the three-quarter pole and still sixth at the seven-eighths pole, used a :28.3 final frame to drive away to a two-length score over L A Freeway in a career-best clocking of 1:57.2. Quantum Victoria (Trevor Ritchie) was another length back in third.
“I was a little bit concerned with Post 10 because the track is deep on the outside,” said Rick Zeron. “I took my time with her leaving and I seen a few other horses made a miscue so I was able to get over to the rail quite easily. She does tend to get a little lazy plus she was looking around a lot during the mile. This is her first time ever being here and she wasn't paying a whole lot of attention going around the final turn. When I moved her out to the middle of the track down the lane and pulled the ear plugs she took right off.
“It’s always gratifying when you train your own and bring them along to get them to this point,” Zeron added. “I’m really happy about tonight because she has won four gold eliminations but never a final.”
Rick Zeron Stables, Rojan Stables, Michael Katz and Stephen Waldman share ownership on the youngster, who now boasts a 5-2-0 record in nine starts. Monday’s $65,000 payday lifted her lifetime earnings to $221,356.
To view Monday’s results, click here.