BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Charlie’s Wish and Rachel’s Rock will take on expected favorite Kathleen O. Wednesday at Gulfstream Park in the eighth-race feature, an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming for fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older, at six-and-a-half furlongs. The $92,000 purse includes a $5,000 FTBOA Florida-bred win bonus.
A winner of the $100,000 Azalea going seven furlongs at Gulfstream in July, Charlie’s Wish makes her first start outside stakes company since a second, a neck shy of Champagne Calling in a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming at Churchill Downs going two turns in May.
Trained by David Fawkes for Royalight Racing LLC, Charlie’s Wish exits a third-place finish behind winner Sweet Dani Girl in the $89,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf for Florida-breds at a mile at Gulfstream on Jan. 14.
Charlie’s Wish is by Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude out of Superior Sarah, by Werblin and was bred by Three Gin Guys Stable. The 4-year-old filly has won three with five seconds and two thirds in 12 career starts with earnings of $216,904.
Tyler Gaffalione will ride Charlie’s Wish from post five in the six-horse field.
Rachel’s Rock returns to Florida from New York where she won a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming by two-and-three-quarters lengths going six furlongs at Aqueduct in November two starts back. The Jacks or Better Farm homebred makes her first start since Dec. 17 when fifth in an upper-level, $80,000 optional claiming won by Mosienko at six furlongs.
Trained by Carlos David, Rachel’s Rock is by Jess’s Dream out of Diamondaire, by Distorted Humor and has four wins in 10 career starts with three thirds and earnings of $181,640.
Rachel’s Rock has the inside post one and jockey Jose Ortiz.
The Shug McGaughey III-trained Kathleen O. makes her first start in more than eight months for owner Winngate Stables LLC when fifth in the Grade 2 Ruffian won by Pass the Champagne going a mile at Belmont Park on May 6.
Kathleen O. has won three of four starts at Gulfstream including the $100,000 Cash Run, Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, all in 2022.
Kathleen O. has a career ledger of four wins with three seconds in nine starts and earnings of $506,255.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Kathleen O. and they will depart post two.
Rounding out the field are Drifaros with jockey Edgard Zayas, Socially Selective and pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. while Edwin Gonzalez rides Bazinga C.
