BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Charlie’s Wish advanced four-wide on the second turn and shot to the lead at the top of the stretch to win the $94,000 Ginger Punch going away at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude won in her first try on synthetic after the mile-and-a-sixteenth Ginger Punch was taken off the turf.
In defeating 12 other fillies and mares, Charlie’s Wish earned a $10,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. It was her first win since taking the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf for Florida-breds at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24.
Jockey Miguel Vasquez used a patient and ground saving tactic into the first turn on Charlie’s Wish as Edgar Perez sent longshot Swoonatra to front post 11. Swoonatra showed the way with recent starter allowance-winner Boston Rose (Ire) while Charlie’s Wish was ninth and more than six lengths behind that pair through a first quarter mile in :23.63 and the half in :47.30.
Swoonatra continued to lead into the far turn before being swallowed up by 2-1 favorite Majestic Venezuela and Angel Nadeshiko while Charlie’s Wish advanced on the leaders while sweeping four-wide.
Majestic Venezuela took over coming out of the far turn but her lead was short lived as Charlie’s Wish powered to the front from between horses. Majestic Venezuela tried to keep up but Charlie’s Wish drew off in the final sixteenth to win by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:42.95. Majestic Venezuela held second, a length-and-three-quarters ahead of Florida-bred Chick’s Shadow, who rallied from tenth early to get third. Show Off, Towser, Cindylouwho, Angel Nadeshiko, Swoonatra, Boston Rose (Ire), Violet Gibson (Ire) and Florida-bred Friendlypersuasion completed the order of finish. Katies a Lady and Strand of Gold scratched.
Charlie’s Wish paid $8.40 to win.
It was the second stakes victory on the day for trainer David Fawkes and Velasquez, who earlier teamed up to win the $95,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint at Gulfstream with Florida-bred Reef Runner.
It was the fifth career win for the reliable Charlie’s Wish, who has finished worse than third three times, all in stakes, in 18 career races. The $57,300 payday for owner Royalight Racing LLC increased her lifetime earnings to $385,979. Her record also includes six seconds and four thirds.
Charlie’s Wish is now a stakes-winner on three different surfaces having won the $100,000 Azalea in July of last year going seven furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream.
In her most recent starts prior to the Ginger Punch, Charlie’s Wish finished second to Florida-bred Beth’s Dream in the $75,000 My Pal Chrisy overnight handicap at a mile on June 23 and third behind that rival in the $99,000 Sheer Drama going seven furlongs on Aug. 17. In January, the versatile Charlie’s Wish was third against Florida-breds in the $89,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf won by Sweet Dani Girl going a mile at Gulfstream.
Charlie’s Wish is out of Superior Sarah, by Werblin and was bred in Florida by Three Gin Guys. Superior Sarah has two winners from four starters with Charlie’s Wish her only black type runner. Superior Sarah has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Sarahs Dream, by Big Drama and an unnamed yearling colt by the Florida-bred stallion Rushie. She was bred to Ocala Stud’s popular stallion Win Win Win, the current leading first crop sire in Florida, in 2024.
