Driver Travis Cullen swept the opening leg of the Blizzard Series with Ea Money Maker and Kobra Kate each pacing up a storm through the stretch to take their respective divisions during a wintery mid-January night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The series, starting with a pair of $18,000 divisions on Friday, Jan. 16, is for three and four-year-old filly and mare pacers that were non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2025.
Cullen worked out a ground-saving, three-hole trip with the catch-drive on Ea Money Maker, who kicked into action after panels of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:29 as she stormed home outside of foes to a two-length victory in 1:56.3 over a track rated "good" with a variant of one second. Bo Ford trains Ea Money Maker for Prince Edward Island owners Saul Lanigan of Cambridge and Chris Farrell of Charlottetown.
Sent postward at 4-1 odds as the fourth choice on the tote board, the winner returned $10.50 to her backers. The 2-1 favourite, D A Miss Universe (Mike Whelan), closed well from the back to place and Tornado Rain (Ed Hensley) edged out Shuri (Tyler Borth) in a show photo.
A three-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Always B Dreaming, Ea Money Maker made her season's debut a winning one after going four-for-seven in her freshman campaign in P.E.I.
Trainer Kevin Bodz's Kobra Kate sat off the pace in fifth behind fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:26.1 before sprinting past a trio of duelling distaffers late in the stretch to take a new lifetime mark of 1:55 flat. Who Are You (Mike Whelan) edged out Marlenes Legacy (James MacDonald) 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner while the 8-5 favourite and leader from the mid-mile mark, Barb Lahey (Todd Ratchford), faded to fourth.
Now a two-time winner in 29 career starts, Kobra Kate paid $15.90 for the mild upset as the 6-1 fourth wagering choice.
Bodz shares ownership of the Big Bad John-Hnt Angel mare with local owners Miriam & Gary Brown of Campbellville, Ont.
Ea Money Maker and Kobra Kate were part of a three-win night for Cullen, who also drove his family's homebred filly Beach Wiggle to a maiden-breaking victory and led all drivers for wins on the 10-race card.
The Blizzard Series will continue with the second round next Friday, Jan. 23 followed by the $30,000 (added) final on Saturday, Jan. 31.
In other Friday night action, Southwind Infusion ($4.70) completed a perfect Pop-Up Series stint with a 1:55.1 winning performance in the $25,000 final of the three-week event for male pacers that were non-winners of $30,000 or not averaging $1,250 per start in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025. J.R. Plante picked up the live catch-drive aboard the five-year-old gelding in the finale for trainer Ashley Lendvoy and owner Gino Toscani of Mount Hope, Ont.
In the $16,000 consolation, trainer Cody Hawkins's homebred Honalulu Vacation ($4) was a five-length winner in 1:53.2 with Daryl Thiessen along for the ride.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Kobra Kate winning on Jan. 16)