Hi Everybody,
Today at Hialeah Park, 2 year old sprinters took center stage in the $20,000 Signature Stakes. It ended up being a very exciting race with a close finish. See attached and below for more.
Just a reminder, Hialeah Park WILL be racing Christmas Eve, Friday the 24th. No racing on Christmas Day but we will have a special Monday racing card on the 27th. Take care and Happy Holidays From Everyone At Hialeah Park!
Pete Aiello
Director of Marketing/Simulcasting
Hialeah Park
305 885 8000 Ext 280
paiello@brunetti.com
I Needa Corona Seals Deal In Signature Stakes At Hialeah; Delgado/Strickland Win 4
Hialeah, FL December 11- The Sunday feature at Hialeah Park was the 2nd running of the $20,000 Signature Stakes at 350 yards. Run as a race for older horses last year, this year the race allowed 2-year old sprinters to showcase their talent. The race ended up as a mix of rising stars and proven horses who could not make it in to the Hialeah Lassie & Laddie Futurities held the day before.
The field of nine left the starting gate with My Corona Memories and I Needa Corona coming away sharply while stable mate C for Corona was flat footed at the break. Midway, My Corona Memories surged ahead under Cody Wainscott . But at the wire, Oscar Delgado and I Needa Corona dug in and out did My Corona Memories, winning by a short neck with Dive In a close third. Suffering four heartbreaking losses in a row, this win was especially sweet for the Strickland team.
“We really have had some bad luck so far this meet. We were saying that a witch had put a curse on us. But the curse got removed today and it feels really good”, said Donnie Strickland’s wife Gina.
A son of King Corona out of the Hot Colours mare Hot Nova, I Needa Corona completed the course in a time of 17.685 over the fast Hialeah main track and returned $6.80 to win as the off time favorite. The win was the 2nd in the colt’s young career and pushes his career earnings to over $73,000.
The stakes win capped off a big afternoon for the team of Delgado and Strickland, who swept the late pick four sequence. The streak started with David Poche surging to dead heat in the 5th, followed by track record holder Patriots Special holding gamely in the 6th. I Needa Corona delivered in the feature and Runnin Redneck capped it off with a decisive maiden win in the 8th and final.
Hialeah Park will be racing Friday Christmas Eve, with no racing on Christmas Day and a special holiday racing card Monday December 27th. The racing season at the famed oval continues through January 23rd with racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:05 pm. Hialeah Park offers free parking and admission every day, with valet parking available for just $3.
