Lea Breezes for Whitney

Claiborne Farm's multiple graded stakes winner Lea, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, hit the main track this morning in preparation for a start in next Saturday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney, going four furlongs in 49.68 seconds.

Lea, who began his 6-year-old season taking the Grade 3 Hal's Hope on January 10 at Gulfstream Park, will look to improve upon his last start, when he lost to Noble Bird by neck in a gutsy performance, finishing second in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 13 at Churchill Downs.

"He was good; he was very good," said Mott. "He worked normal, kind of what we expected and wanted. It's all we were looking for, real smooth. He's still on track for the Whitney. That's the plan."

Meanwhile, Mott reported that Japan emerged from his third-place finish in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in good order. The Medaglia d'Oro colt will be nominated to the Grade 1 Travers, according to his trainer. 

"After that," Mott added, "we'll wait and see."

Source: NYRA Communications