Making his second start of the year, LEA put in a gallant effort to finish runner-up to Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Firecracker H.-G2. Racing a mile on the yielding turf at Churchill Downs in a driving rainstorm, the 4-year-old colt by FIRST SAMURAI raced forwardly from the start, then split horses inside the 3/16’s pole and finished with a strong run, beaten only two lengths. In his first start of the year, LEA drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in a one mile off-the-turf allowance at Churchill Downs, his first try on dirt.
A homebred for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, and trained by Al Stall, Jr., LEA won the 2012 Commonwealth Turf S.-G3 and has four wins and three placings in seven starts and earnings of $268,618.