13-time stakes winner, Vital Winner retires

Poolsville, TX - Oct. 10, 2011 - Vital Winner, a 13-time stakes winner owned by Debra Gotavac of Midland, Texas, has been retired, according to his longtime trainer Bradley Bolen. The 7-year-old gelded son of Easy Winning Jet will return to the home of his breeder Fletcher Huskey in Poolsville, Texas, to live out his life.

Among his many stakes victories are the SLM Big Daddy Stakes-twice, Sunray Park Marathon Handicap-twice, Sailfish Stakes, Orange Blossom Stakes, Moonstone Stakes, Lone Star Park Distance Championship, Northwest Distance Challenge, Manor Downs Handicap IV, Red River Handicap and JEH Stallion Station Handicap.

He was second in the Zia Park Championship (G1), Remington Park Distance Championship (G3), All American Gold Cup (G3), SLM Big Daddy Stakes (G3), Paul's Valley Handicap (G3)-twice, Special Hank Handicap-twice, Crystal River Stakes and Blazer Stakes. The gelding also ran third in the Hobbs America Derby (G2), Mile High Derby (G2), Brigand Handicap (G3) and Remington Park Distance Handicap.

He established a 1000 yard track record at Hialeah Park in :52.336 and set a new Hialeah Park track record for 550 yards in :27.341. He earned a career high 122 speed index .

The gray gelding began his career in 2006 winning two of five starts. At 3 he won five of 13 starts earning $117,550, placing in two derbies. In 2008, as a 4-year-old, Vital Winner began to get into his groove and scored six stakes wins in nine starts while banking $124,627. He followed that year with five stakes wins in 10 starts and earnings of $120,597. In 2010 he earned two stakes victories added $67,846 to his earnings mark. In seven starts this season he has gone winless while posting two seconds and one third.

In six seasons at the track, Vital Winner has amassed 21 wins, 12 seconds and five thirds from 53 starts, earning $457,393. A Superior Race Horse, he has run at 13 different race tracks in seven states, from Idaho to Florida. Vital Winner competed against the best at Ruidoso Downs, Remington Park, Lone Star Park, Sunland Park, Zia Park, Evangeline Downs and Hialeah Park, just to name a few.

According to Bolen, "Vital Winner has earned his retirement and finishes his long racing career sound." In his final start, an Allowance at Lone Star Park on September 22nd, he finished third while running a 99 speed index.

AQHA