Lea Arrives at Claiborne

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Lea (First Samurai–Greenery, by Galileo {Ire}), the 2014 GI Donn H. hero and a solid second in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in his final career appearance Oct. 30, has arrived for stud duty at the famed nursery. He will stand for a fee of $12,500 and will be available for inspection during the Keeneland November sale beginning this Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Proficient on the grass during the first part of his career, with a victory in the GIII Commonwealth Turf S., Lea was runner-up to Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) in the GII Firecracker H. and again in the GII Fourstardave H. at age four before making a successful transition to the main track in 2014. The blaze-faced chestnut won the GIII Hal's Hope S. and followed up with a track-record setting performance in the GI Donn H., defeating champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) in the process. He returned from a lengthy absence to defend his title in the Hal's Hope and was a game second to Constitution (Tapit) in search of a second Donn success, then was third in the $10-million G1 Dubai World Cup. Beaten a neck in the GI Stephen Foster H., Lea rounded out the exacta behind subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 13 prior to his Dirt Mile effort. He earned triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in seven of his last eight starts, including a 114 and a 110.