Charlie’s Wish continued her ascent up the First Dude $200,000 ladder yesterday with a convincing victory in the $100,000 Ginger Punch Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

    The 4-year-old filly bred by Three Gin Guys Stable came from off the pace under Miguel Vasquez and scored by 2 1/2 widening lengths, earning a check for $57,300, which ballooned her career total to $385,979. She jumped up several places to No. 11 on the First Dude winners’ list, and is just $21,000 from reaching No. 8.

    The race, originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass, was switched to the Tapeta track at the same distance. Vasquez settled his filly in on the inside, about eight lengths behind, heading down the backstretch, then swung her wide with a monster run on the turn and she proved much the best in the lane, getting the distance in 1:42.95 and paying $8.40.

    Charlie’s Wish received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 97 for her fifth career victory, best of her 18-race career; she has also posted six seconds and four thirds. This was her third stakes victory to go along with four stakes seconds and two stakes thirds.