Benoit Photo

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 28, 2002) -- Smokin' Charlotte emerged from the pack at the head of the stretch and drew off Sunday to win the $175,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes for older fillies and mares in Gold Rush II at Hollywood Park.

The 4-year-old daughter of Red Bishop, out of the Time to Explode mare King's Thunder, was bred by co-owner Fast Lane Farms Partnership. She had won only two of 11 previous career starts and the $90,000 first-place check exceeded her lifetime earnings of $74,328.

Smokin' Charlotte came into the race having won only once against winners in eight tries, that coming in a Feb. 15 Cal-bred allowance. In her most recent race, she finished sixth but only two lengths from the front in a Mar. 31 allowance race. She could have been claimed for $62,500 as recently as Dec. 30.

Smokin' Charlotte was trained by John Sadler and gave jockey Victor Espinoza his third winner on the card, winning by four lengths. Stetson Lady was second and favored Super Tuesday was third.