HIALEAH, FL—FEBRUARY 3, 2010—Sent off as the 1-9 post time favorite, Vital Winner came through as the star of closing day at Hialeah Park winning the inaugural Sailfish Stakes, the only race run this meet at 1000 yards and the first around a turn at Hialeah since 2001.

The triumph propelled Vital Winner’s career earnings just over the $400,000 mark as his third stakes win this meet.

A six-year-old Easy Winning Jet gelding owned by Debra Gotovac, Vital Winner angled wide into the stretch and handled today’s six rivals with visual ease, stopping the clock in 52.336 over a fast track while a length and one quarter in front of runner-up Deedees Half Note.

The win, his fifth from his last six starts, also marked the twentieth victory from 39 lifetime starts for the Texas bred trained by Brad Bolen and ridden by regular jockey Alex Baldillez, Jr.

Racing for Ron Gregg, Deedees Half Note earned $6,375 for finishing second. The Holy Notes-TB 4-year-old was saddled by Henry J. Smith and ridden by William Ives.

Devons Easy Lane was 1 ¼ lengths back for third. The Devon Lane-TB 9-year-old is owned and trained by H. Armando Orozco. Shanley Jackson got the riding call. Completing the Sailfish field were Intrinsic Oakes, Hidden Miracle, Kels Jeter Lane and A Kiss For Toast. La Especial Corona was scratched.

Trainer Donnie Strickland and jockey Thomas Byrd finished the meet as leaders in their respective divisions and were recognized in a winners’ circle ceremony Wednesday afternoon, while trainer Armando Orozco finished up as the meet’s leading owner with his stock.