Grade 1-winning millionaire LEA (First Samurai – Greenery, by Galileo [IRE]) will be retired after the upcoming Breeders’ Cup. He will be syndicated and will stand at Claiborne Farm for the 2016 breeding season.
A homebred who races for Claiborne and partner Adele Dilschneider, LEA is by First Samurai, out of the stakes-placed mare Greenery. She is a half-sister to three Graded stakes winners and is a daughter of top international sire and emerging broodmare sire Galileo.
With earnings in excess of $2 million, LEA has made 18 starts to date and won or placed in 15 races on dirt and turf – 11 Graded stakes. He won the 1 1/8-mile Donn H.-G1 in track record time, posted back-to-back wins in the Hal’s Hope S.-G3, and won the Commonwealth Turf S.-G3. His placings include the Stephen Foster H.-G1, Dubai World Cup-G1, and Woodbine Mile-G1. He’s earned triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in six of his last seven starts, including a 114 and a 110.
“LEA has a great disposition, and he’s one of the coolest horses we’ve ever had in the barn,” said Hall-of-Fame trainer Bill Mott. “He’s very effective on both surfaces. He’s fast enough to be top class at a mile, and he’s shown he can run with the best at 9 to 10 furlongs. He’s an exciting horse to be around.”
LEA’s stud fee will be announced after the Breeders’ Cup. He will be making his final start in either Dirt or Turf Mile. Claiborne’s other 2016 fees are as follows:
Algorithms • $5,000
Arch • $40,000
Blame • $25,000
Data Link • $7,500
First Samurai • $15,000
Flatter • $30,000
Lea • TBA
Orb • $25,000
Stroll • $5,000
Trappe Shot • $10,000
War Front • $200,000
All fees are stands and nurses.