As racing picks back up in the states, progeny from the first crop of LEA are back in business, including a pair of impressive maiden winners over the weekend at Gulfstream Park.
On Thursday, the Todd Pletcher-trained Setting the Mood took to the dirt and graduated in her second outing, scoring a come-from-behind victory by four and a half lengths under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Following a close runner-up finish on the turf last time out, Setting the Mood graduated on a fast main track after the mile and an eighth contest was taken off the turf. Setting the Mood was a $140,000 OBS April purchase last year by Steve Young, agent for Paul Pompa, Jr. She was bred in Kentucky by Curt Leake out of the Malibu Moon mare Moon Meeting Too.
LEA saw another maiden special weight winner on the rainy Memorial Day at Gulfstream Park. In her second start for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., Gibberish contested the pace on the sloppy sealed track and was much the best, drawing off by seven lengths under jockey Emisael Jaramillo. A hefty $230,000 weanling at Keeneland November, she was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent for e Five Racing. Gibberish was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm and is out of the young Pulpit mare Nippy.
LEA’s progeny are already showing his versatility, winning on all surfaces, from turf to dirt, both sloppy and fast. LEA himself was a graded stakes winner on both turf and dirt, and was an international Grade 1 performer. A multimillionaire, LEA won or placed in 12 graded stakes throughout his career including a track record-setting performance in the Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park. LEA stands at Claiborne Farm for $7,500 LFSN.