BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Charlie’s Wish will be among the favorites to win Saturday’s $75,000 Monroe at a mile-and-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream Park as the Florida-bred filly looks for her second consecutive stakes victory. The 4-year-old daughter of Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude will also be running for a share of the $20,000 Top 3 bonus for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. A field of seven fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older are entered.
Most recently a half-length winner of the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Distaff Turf against Florida-bred fillies and mares at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24, Charlie’s Wish is also in search of her second career added-money score in open company at Gulfstream. Trained by David Fawkes, Charlie’s Wish won the $100,000 Azalea by nearly five lengths going seven furlongs on the Gulfstream main track in July.
Earlier this year on the Gulfstream grass, Charlie’s Wish was third, beaten two lengths by winner Sweet Dani Girl in the $89,000 Sunshine Distaff Turf at a mile before finishing third to Socially Selective in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs on dirt on Feb. 21.
Charlie’s Wish is owned by Royalight Racing LLC and was bred by Three Gin Guys. She is out of Superior Sarah, by Werblin and has reliable record of four wins, five seconds and three thirds in 14 career starts with earnings of $296,474.
Miguel Vasquez will ride Charlie’s Wish from post two.
Her main competition comes from Thirty Thou Kelvin, who makes her second start of the year for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.
The 4-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro completed her 2023 campaign with two stakes victories, winning the $150,000 Christina going a mile-and-an-eight on the turf at Delaware Park and the $253,000 Virginia Oaks at the same distance on the grass at Colonial Downs on Sept. 9.
Thirty Thou Kelvin has four wins and three thirds in 12 career starts and will run in the yellow and black colors of SJB Stable.
She has drawn post seven and Emisael Jaramillo will be in the irons.
Also look for Empress Ellie, who exits a two-length victory in a $25,000 starter allowance optional claming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream on April 19.
She is trained by Sandino Hernandez for Amaty Racing Stables Inc. and will be ridden from post one by Leonel Reyes.
Others set for the Monroe are Ocean Club with Edwin Gonzalez named to ride, Angel Nadeshiko will have Edgard Zayas aboard, Starship Agenda with jockey Luca Panici and Edgar Perez will be on Towser.
