Gulfstream Park: Lea draws off to win Hal's Hope

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Lea may have earned himself a berth in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap after drawing away to a 3 1/4-length decision over multiple Grade 1 winner Jackson Bend in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes. Lea also gave jockey Luis Saez the 1,000th victory of his riding career.

Despite having limited experience on dirt, Lea took readily to the fast Gulfstream Park surface, stalking the early pace set by defending Hal’s Hope champ Csaba. Lea edged to the front in early stretch, opened a commanding advantage near midstretch, and was not threatened thereafter.

Jackson Bend finished well to be second, a half-length in front of Neck ‘n Neck, who had to steady and alter course on the turn before rallying belatedly to be third. Csaba had little left once leaving the turn and finished a tiring sixth as the tepid 3-1 favorite in a field of nine older horses.

Lea is a homebred son of First Samurai owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. The Hal’s Hope was his first start since being transferred to trainer Bill Mott’s barn two months earlier. He paid $14.80.

“I’ve had him about 60 days, and initially we were pointing for either the El Prado or the Fort Lauderdale,” Mott said. “Then we started examining his dirt form, and it looked pretty good, and discussing it with Walker Hancock, we decided to give him a shot early in the year on the dirt and see what direction we’d go the rest of the year.”

Mott’s eyes then widened at the mention of the Feb. 9 Donn as a possibility for Lea’s next start.

“I was just kind of considering that,” Mott said. “We’ll have to talk to the owners about it.”