When you hear horseman Rick Zeron talk about his three-year-old trotting fillies Peach Martini and Lady Rainbow, it is hard to not take note of his eagerness to get the lasses on the stakes trail
. And, with a two-year-old full brother to the latter filly currently training down, the Oakville, Ont. resident has much to look forward to in 2011.
While in discussion with the Woodbine Entertainment Group, Zeron spoke of both fillies and the youngster which is looking forward to getting started on his racing career.
When asked about Peach Martini (Striking Sahbra--Armbro Martini), Zeron said that everything with the filly is looking good so far.
"She's come back well. She's actually gotten longer. She's also got a little bit taller, but she's longer and has just filled out unbelievably," he said of the five-time winner that has banked $296,356. "She's staying very sound. We've done everything that we are supposed to do to keep her fit. She's been in (2:) 15 and she's just phenomenal right now."
In terms of what she will be up to and where she will make her 2011 debut, Zeron was quite to the point.
"I'll school her; I'll qualify her, and I will race her in the first (Ontario Sires Stakes) Gold (race, May 20, Western Fair Raceway). I'm not going to race her in anything else because she was just shy of $300,000, and unless we can get a three-year-old trotting filly class going prior to the stakes races she's going to have to be in way too tough, so I'll have her prepped for the first [Gold]."
Zeron also explained that Lady Rainbow (Muscles Yankee -- Sunshinenlollipops) has been turning some heads recently during her mornings at Mohawk.
"She's really good," he said in regard to the way that the filly has come back this year. "As a matter of fact, we just finished training her, and two trainers -- Frank O'Reilly and another guy -- yelled at me and told me how good she looks. Her head is down between her legs and she really grew up for me. She had a little issue last year touching that inside knee, and that is what cost her the money in the Breeders Crown and the Peaceful Way, but she doesn't even come close to her knee now. She's grown up, looks really nice, and I expect big things from her."
The winner of four of nine races and $212,989 in purses got a taste of the spotlight in 2010, and according to Zeron she will be dancing some big dances if everything goes to plan this year. "The biggest thing that my partners and I want to point her to is the Hambletonian Oaks. That's what we're prepping her and getting her ready for," he said.
"She sure is something to watch go. She's going to be a really nice commodity in the barn, and she's sounder this year and stronger, so I'm expecting big things from her."
When asked what one attribute about her sticks out the most, Zeron didn't miss a beat in giving his response.
"Her gait, because the way she trots she stretches herself out so far that her front toes almost go past her nose; and she puts her head down between her legs, and that is the sign of a great trotter as far as I'm concerned. If a trotter can put its head down between its legs and stretch itself out, boy, that's a big factor."
Knowing full well what Lady Rainbow can do, Zeron is obviously excited about the upcoming freshman campaign of her younger brother, Bionic Muscles
"He is doing very well. We have been very cautious with him. We have been in (2:) 25 with him, but we have backed him up a little bit because we only have to get him ready for mid August for the Grand Circuit.
"He's a little bit of a handful, though. Allan Briscoe looks after him, and if it wasn't for Allan we'd probably have to geld him. He jumps on Allan quite a few times, but once we have him where he is training a little bit faster I think he is going to be good because he's got the same gait as Lady Rainbow. If everything goes well and nothing happens we are going to have a great year."