Bolt clocked 45.86 seconds for a near 20-metre victory in the one-lap event at the National Stadium, lowering the mark of 46.35 he set last year.
The triple Olympic and World Championship gold medallist accelerated down the backstretch to take control and won his heat very easily.
He said he did not “feel” the way he wanted to but conceded that the time was satisfying.
“I feel pretty good as I got 45, so that’s a good sign,” Bolt told reporters at trackside after the unchallenged victory.
Bolt, who holds the 100 and 200-metre world records at 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively, said the outing would be his only early season 400-metre run and that he is returning to hard training to improve on his fitness.
“I just want to get my fitness up, I don’t think I am where I would want to be,” he said.
One of Bolt’s first major events for the year will be the June 12 IAAF Diamond League meet in New York.
Olympic semi-finalist Ricardo Chambers won his 400m heat Saturday in 45.98 seconds, also inside Bolt’s 2009 meet record, to be second quickest overall behind Bolt.
