Lea switching surfaces for Woodbine Mile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lea, who has made his last eight starts on dirt, including a victory in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in 2014, will return to turf in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 13, trainer Bill Mott confirmed.

Lea hasn’t raced on turf since August 2013, when he finished third to Wise Dan in the Fourstardave here while trained by Al Stall. He is expected to take on Wise Dan in the Woodbine Mile.

“We’re going in a Grade 1; you can’t really dodge any one horse,” Mott said. “I got the most respect for Wise Dan, but he has been off a year. If I feel like if I have to duck him now, I shouldn’t be running.”

Mott didn’t think Lea handled the Saratoga main track when he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 8. He worked him twice on the Oklahoma turf course, including a five-furlong move in 59.55 seconds on Aug. 24 that impressed Mott and exercise rider Neil Poznansky.

“The other day, I put him on the grass, and he looked like he worked much better than he ever did on the dirt,” Mott said. “I’ve never tried him on the grass. I need to see it for myself.”

On Monday, Lea went back to the dirt, breezing a half-mile in 49.98 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.