After having finished second in her three prior stakes tries at Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, Charlie’s Wish finally turned it around yesterday with an authoritative score in the $100,000 Azalea Stakes at Gulfstream.

    The 3-year-old daughter of First Dude sat a comfortable fifth down the backstretch with Leonel Reyes as her two main challengers, 6/5 favorite Trust Me and Game Face Stakes-winner Flakes, battled it out on the front end of the seven-furlong test. Reyes sent Charlie’s Wish after the leaders on the turn and the filly bred by Three Gin Guys Stable overpowered the pair, drawing off with ease to win by nearly five widening lengths, and paying $6.

    Charlie’s Wish was clocked in 1:24.01 and raised her record to 3-4-1 in nine starts, earning a check for $70,570 and boosting her career total to $146,720. First Dude is now less than $100,000 from reaching $25 million in lifetime progeny earnings.