Lea Returns to Defend Hal's Hope Title

Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm's Lea (First Samurai) resurfaces for the first time since a track record-breaking win in February's GI Donn H. in today's GIII Hal's Hope S. at Gulfstream. A Grade III winner on the turf in 2012 for Al Stall, Jr. and twice Grade II-placed the following season, the homebred was transferred to Bill Mott for a 2014 campaign and kicked things off promisingly with a 3 1/4-length success in this race. The chestnut developed a fever in April, however, and failed to resurface for the rest of the season after his auspicious Donn performance. “It kind of lingered a little longer than we had hoped, and just nothing went smoothly when we were coming back,” Mott said of Lea's illness. “We just decided to give him extra time and sort of start all over. We could have run him late last fall in New York and we just opted not to do it and give him the time.” The Hall of Fame trainer added, “He seems to be doing well, but he's coming off a long layoff and coming into a stakes race. Obviously, it'll be a competitive spot I'm sure. We're just looking to see how he does and hoping he makes a good showing coming off a layoff.” Crosses Sabres Farm's Valid (Medaglia d'Oro) matched the 111 Beyer Speed Figure Lea earned in the Donn last out when falling just short of game J “TDN Rising Star” J Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) in this venue's 1 1/16-mile Harlan's Holiday S. Dec. 13. The Marcus Vitali pupil annexed the GII Monmouth Cup over next-out GIII Ack Ack H. winner Bradester (Lion Heart) in July before finishing third in the GIII Philip H. Iselin S. in August. He took a track-and-trip allowance in the slop Sept. 11, and added the Eight Miles West S. at Gulfstream Park West a month later. “He seemed to get good and he's stayed good, which is a rarity in this business. They're like flowers, you know?” Vitali said. “This particular horse is a big, strong horse and he loves to train. Every day he's getting stronger and stronger. I think he was late to develop and he's finally come into himself. I just see good things for Valid on the horizon if he stays healthy.” Robsham Stables homebred Golden Lad (Medaglia d'Oro) capped a four-race win streak with a 6 3/4-length romp in Oaklawn's GIII Razorback H. Mar. 15, but was fifth in a roughly run renewal of the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 12 and eighth in the GIII Pimlico Special S. May 16. “He just kind of flattened out in the Pimlico Special and seemed a little jammed up coming out of it, so we decided to stop on him and give him a little break,” explained trainer Todd Pletcher. “He seems to have come back really well. He's proven on his day he's capable of running big races and we like the way he's training, so it looks like a good place to get his season started.”