Fitness First favoured in MacDonald Family Pace

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – A strong start to her career has Fitness First (Stay Hungry) listed as the one to beat in the $8,000 MacDonald Family Pace for two-year-old harness racing fillies Friday evening during the opening program of Old Home Week 2025 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 11-dash program gets underway at 6 P.M., with the rookie fillies featured in race 4.

Leaving from post 3, Fitness First is the 5-2 morning line favourite for trainer-driver Corey MacPherson and owner Jim Gorman of South Melville. The daughter of Stay Hungry was a winner in her last two outings including a 1:57.4 victory in her latest.

Lila Berry (To be driven by Michael McGuigan) leaves from the rail and comes in off third place finishes in her last two for owners Little Pond Stables.

Ea Money Maker (Marc Campbell) garners post 2 from the Saul Lanigan barn, with Lanigan co-owning the Sweet Lou filly alongside Chris Farrell and Mark Lanigan. She was a winner in her latest in 2:00.2.

Into The Maelstrom (Ken Murphy) is fresh off a qualifier from the Clifford Murphy barn with Dr. Mary McNiven of Nine Mile Creek owning the Sunshine Beach filly who leaves from post 4.

You Already Have (Norris Rogers) has was third her last start from the Nicholas Oakes stable and has the outside post 5. The Cattlewash filly is owned by JD Racing Inc., and Dunsan Farms.

The Backstretch Beat gives the edge to the chalk.

“Fitness First fired off the wings and never looked back going coast to coast and closing it out in a snappy 28.2. We’re thinking the tactics will be the same tonight so don’t be surprised if she scores a natural hat trick.”

Race 3 is the District 15 & District 17 Liberal Associations Pace with Dusty Lane Zoro (Don MacNeill) the favourite from post 4.

The Bob Connelly Memorial R.E.’s Stable Pace is in race 5 headlined by Doc Darryl (Colin Sheppard) from post 4.

Race 6 is the Kent MacDonald MP Cardigan Pace while the Mick & Barb Dunn Memorial is in race 7.

Race 8 is sponsored by Collings Timbermart & Ryan’s Driving School.

Race 9 is the Trevor Tracey – Trevor Tracey Family Funeral Home Pace.

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For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores