BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Second in the $100,000 Game Face last out on June 17 and second in the $50,000 Gaparilla at Tampa Bay Down in January, Florida-bred Charlie’s Wish earned her first stakes victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a four-and-three-quarter-length triumph in the $75,000 Azalea. The daughter of Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude defeated six other 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs in the Azalea while also earning a $25,000 Florida-bred win bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Trained by David Fawkes for owner Royalight Racing LLC, Charlie’s Wish and jockey Leonel Reyes raced in fifth down the backstretch as Trust Me led the way through a :23.48 first quarter mile. Charlie’s Wish circled rivals while four-wide in the turn to take a short lead from Trust Me and Flakes to her inside at the top of the stretch. Charlie’s Wish drew clear in the run for home to finish in 1:14.01 on the fast track.

“She’s just getting better and better. The older she gets, the better she gets,” Fawkes said.

Charlie’s Wish topped a Florida-bred trifecta with Flakes second and 6-5 favorite Trust Me third. Jellicle Katz was fourth followed by Florida-breds Principia, Kikilove and Just Mercy. One of One was scratched.

Charlie’s Wish paid $6 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

The victory by Charlie’s Wish increased her career bankroll to $188,540 from three wins, four seconds and a third in nine starts.

Charlie’s Wish is out of Superior Sarah, by Werblin and was bred in Florida by Three Gin Guys Stable, who campaigned Superior Sarah during a racing career that saw her earn $221,560 with three wins in 22 starts. Superior Sarah has two winners from four starters with Charlie’s Wish her only black-type earner. Superior Sarah has an unraced 2-year-old filly, Sarahs Drama, by Big Drama, and an unnamed weanling filly by Rushie.