The first stakes win for trainer Patricia West was a sentimental one for the connections. Named after owner Thomas Galvin’s granddaughter, their filly A G’s Charlotte stole the show in the 1st running of the $75,000 Big World Stakes at 1 mile 70 yards for older Louisiana-bred females.

“It’s been a little bit of a challenge for her,” West said in the winner’s circle. “With her running style she is always chasing fillies and we’ve been waiting for her to get more and more mature. She got there today.”

The set-up was perfect for the 9.90-1 closer to make a late splash. Front runner Cheapskate Diva ran off under Colby Hernandez making the rounds in 23.58, 46.98, and 1:12.65 while leading by as many as 5 lengths. Betting-favorite Winning Romance let her go, but she began to reel her back in little by little, eventually grabbing the lead at the stretch call. A G’s Charlotte’s jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. let her loose at the perfect moment to nail Winning Romance at the wire in 1:43.56, winning by a neck.

“Those were hot fractions today,” Pedroza Jr. said. “Patricia (trainer West) told me to not get her into gear too early because she would make her move. When I put her into gear, she was right, and she got there in time.”

Adding another win for a career record of 11-4-1-2, A G’s Charlotte surely made her namesake proud and maybe she’ll share a portion of her $124,660 lifetime earnings with her, too.