LEA
(h, 5, First Samurai–Greenery, by Galileo {Ire})
O/B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (KY); T-Bill Mott.
Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-2, $709,618.
Last Start: 1st GI Donn H. at Gulfstream Feb. 9.
After missing an intended start in the GII Charles Town Classic Apr. 19, the authoritative GI Donn H. hero Lea (First Samurai) is currently being aimed at a late summer/fall campaign with a long-term eye on the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 1.
“He got a little sick before the race, and it actually was a bit more serious than we originally thought,” Claiborne Farm President Walker Hancock revealed. “He's on his way back and is doing well now.”
The 5-year-old has posted two workouts over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track this month, including a best-of-23 three-furlong bullet in :36.45 Wednesday.
“We'd like to get some more miles on him before making a decision [on his next start],” Hancock added. “The [GI] Whitney [S. Aug. 2] is too close, but if he could make the [GI] Woodward [S. Aug. 30] or maybe the [GI] Jockey Club Gold Cup, something like that would be the target. The Breeders' Cup Classic is the goal for him.”
Lea made the first 10 starts of his career for trainer Al Stall Jr., mainly on grass, including a win in the 2012 GIII Commonwealth Turf S. and a second-place finish behind two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) in the 2013 GII Firecracker H. Transferred to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Lea has been perfect in two attempts on the Gulfstream dirt, including the GIII Hal's Hope S. Jan. 11 and his aforementioned tally over champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) in the Donn Feb. 9.
“Winning a race like that, he could be a stallion now,” Hancock reflected. “Whether that's the end of this year or next, we're looking forward to the future with him.” –Steve Sherack
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