A pair of 2023 O'Brien Award finalists with potential series starts on the horizon shared the spotlight during the session of qualifiers on Friday, Feb. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

After a seven-month layoff, top class talent Emmetts Buddy made his return to action. Last seen in pari-mutuel activity on July 27, 2024, Emmetts Buddy appeared in the morning's first qualifier with regular pilot Tyler Borth at the lines.

Dropping into third early, Emmetts Buddy patiently paced in the three spot behind early leaders Manhawk (James MacDonald) and The Vicar (Bob McClure), then inherited second after The Vicar broke while on top just after the 1:00 half. Thus, Emmetts Buddy enjoyed a pocket ride to the 1:29.3 third station behind Manhawk and then paced by that rival in the stretch to win by just about a length in a time of 1:57.3. Nova Scotia Strong (Tyler Moore) closed well to complete the top trio.

Bred and owned by Arthur Rey of St. Claude, Man., Emmetts Buddy (In The Irons - Logicallyinclined) sports a 22-11-9 summary from his 65 career starts with a mark of 1:49 and more than $344,000 in earnings. The Mike Kwietniowski trainee is one of 18 horses eligible to the 2025 edition of the New Holland Pacing Series, with the first leg slated for Saturday, March 15.

Two dashes later, two-time O'Brien Award winner Fashion Frenzie returned to the racetrack for his seven-year-old campaign. The request from driver Louis-Philippe Roy was a front-end mission, and Fashion Frenzie willingly obliged.

Cutting over from post eight, Fashion Frenzie posted a :28.4 opening quarter before middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:29. Straightening up for home, Fashion Frenzie stretched out his lead and scored by a widening five lengths in a time of 1:57.2. Like Chaos (Doug McNair) and Tymal Tarot (Phil Hudon) were next best.

Jeff Gillis trains Fashion Frenzie (Archangel - Striking Fashion) for owners Ecurie Francis Richard Inc., Pierre Guillemette and Sylvain Richard of Becancour, Que. and Gestion Mario Bourgea Inc. of Stanbridge-East. The 27-time winner with nearly $1.3 milllion in earnings is also eligible to New Holland Series action, with the 18 eligible trotters set to compete in the first leg on Monday, March 10.

A third 2023 O'Brien Award finalist also found the wire first later in the card when pacing mare One Last Wish prevailed in 1:57.3 for driver Roy and trainer Ken Sucee. Making her second free-legged qualifying appearance of the season, the five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight - Arts Diva is a 12-time winner with a mark of 1:50.1 and $478,000 in earnings for breeder-owners Brian & Dr. David Legge of Toronto and Ajax, respectively.

The full video stream is available below. 

For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).

(Standardbred Canada)