by Greg Gangle – WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — After winning four Gold eliminations this year, Peach Martini was able to over-come post 10 to score her first OSS Gold final victory of the year tonight at Mohawk Racetrack.

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Peach Martini overcame post 10 to score her first OSS Gold final victory of the year at Mohawk Racetrack.

The daughter of Striking Sahbra continues to lead her division in points in the Ontario Sires Stakes standings leading up to the C$300,000 OSS Super Final on November 13 for trainer/driver Rick Zeron.

Starting from post 10, the young trotter was moving smartly off the gate for Zeron as three horses made a costly miscue which allowed Zeron to position Peach Martini sixth at the quarter in :27.1.

Extroadinaire (Wayne Henry) took her rivals past the opening panel, but she was soon overtaken by L A Freeway (Paul MacDonell), who posted middle half speed of :57.3 and 1:27.2.

Around the final turn, Zeron angled his charge to the outside but was still not in contention until the top of the stretch. L A Freeway was still on top at the head of the lane but she soon had her lead carved down to less than one length. Peach Martini kicked into high gear in the late stages of the mile and sailed under the wire a two length winner in 1:57.2 over L A Freeway. Quantum Victoria (Trevor Ritchie) was third.

After winning her elimination last week, Peach Martini was the heavy favorite in tonight’s event.

“I was a little bit concerned with post 10 because the track is deep on the outside. 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,” Zeron commented in the post race interview with WEG’s Chris Hickey.

“Well 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. I’m really happy about tonight because she has won four gold eliminations but never a final.”

Peach Martini lifted her freshman earnings to $221,356 for Zeron and partners Michael Katz of Thornhill, Ontario, Stephen Waldman of Toronto, Ontario, and Rojan Stables of Wilmington, Delaware.