A brisk qualifying session on Friday (Feb. 4) at Woodbine Mohawk Park consisted of six dashes, with only one coming in faster than 2:00.
In the second test of the morning, Alberta invader Dragon Energy did all the heavy lifting on the front end for driver Nathan Sobey through fractions of :29.3, 1:00.4 and 1:31. Doug McNair bided his time with Ivana Flybye N in fourth during the first half of the dash, then right-lined his charge for a first-over attack around the far turn.
As the six-pack of pacers turned for home, Dragon Energy held a short lead but was swallowed up by that first-over advancer Ivana Flybye N in midstretch. The New Zealand-bred then held off strong challenges from Somewhereinverona (Austin Sorrie) and My Mother Pearl (Chris Christoforou) to trip the timer in 1:59.2.
Making her first start for trainer Duane Marfisi, Ivana Flybye N (American Ideal - Cathys Flybye N) is owned by Mike Tanev's MT Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ont. The eight-year-old pacing mare had a near five-month layoff after a 2021 campaign with 12 top-three finishes from 19 appearances.
The full qualifying session is available below.
To view the results from the Friday session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (qualifiers)