Plainville, MA — After winning two consecutive starts at Plainridge Park, First Up finished seventh at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono only five days ago. But she returned to Plainridge on Friday (Oct. 2) and picked up where she left off, winning the $17,500 featured Winners-Over Pace for fillies and mares.

First Up controlled the pace and cruised to victory in Friday’s featured distaff pace at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

Driver Shawn Gray sent First Up right to the front and had the race in full control from there. After getting to the half in a tepid :57, First Up hit the gas, paced back-to-back :27.3 quarters while putting away a challenge from That’s Incredible (Drew Monti), and then cruised home to a two-length win under a line drive in 1:52.

It was the fourth win of the year for First Up ($3.00), who is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Sheena McElhiney.

Gray also won a $15,000 conditioned event for distaff 4-year-olds and under with the promising 3-year-old filly Odds On Algorithm ($5.60), who came first-over, took the lead past the half, and then closed out the mile by a length in 1:52.4, which was just three-fifths of a second off the track record. Odds On Algorithm is owned by The Green Machine Stable and is trained by Alicia Gray.

Shawn Gray ended up the day with a driving triple, outpacing Bruce Ranger’s two wins. Trainers Sheena McElhiney and Alicia Gray scored two wins apiece as well.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 4), when the Massachusetts Sire Stakes 3-year-old divisions will reconvene for their second legs. Then, on Monday (Oct. 5), the MASS 2-year-olds will be back on the track. Post time for both days is 2 p.m.