Lemon Drop Kid

American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

For the Bob Hope film, see The Lemon Drop Kid.

Lemon Drop Kid

Sire| Kingmambo
Grandsire| Mr. Prospector
Dam| Charming Lassie
Damsire| Seattle Slew
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| May 26, 1996[1]
Country| United States
Colour| Bay
Breeder| William S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy
Owner| Jeanne G. Vance
Trainer| Scotty Schulhofer
Record| 24: 10-3-3
Earnings| $3,245,370
Major wins
Belmont Futurity Stakes (1998)
Travers Stakes (1999)
Brooklyn Handicap (2000)
Suburban Handicap (2000)
Whitney Handicap (2000)
Woodward Stakes (2000)

Triple Crown race wins:
Belmont Stakes (1999)
Awards
United States Champion Older Male Horse (2000)
Last updated on June 26, 2007

Lemon Drop Kid (foaled May 26, 1996) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Best known for winning the 1999 Belmont Stakes, he was also the champion older horse of 2000 after winning the Brooklyn, Suburban, Whitney Handicaps and the Woodward Stakes.

## Background[edit]

Lemon Drop Kid is a bay horse with no white markings bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy. He was sired by Kingmambo an American-bred horse who raced in Europe before returning to the United States to become a highly successful breeding stallion. His dam Charming Lassie, a daughter of Seattle Slew, went on to produce Statue of Liberty, a colt which won the Coventry Stakes in 2002. Charming Lassie's dam was Lassie Dear, an influential broodmare whose other descendants have included A.P. Indy, Summer Squall, Duke of Marmalade and Wolfhound.[2]

## Racing career[edit]

As a two-year-old in 1998 Lemon Drop Kid showed himself to be a very promising colt with a victory in the Grde I Belmont Futurity in September.

Lemon Drop Kid won a minor race at Gulfstream Park in February 1999 but then appeared to have his limitations exposed when he was well-beaten in the Blue Grass Stakes and then finishing ninth to Charismatic in the Kentucky Derby. The colt missed the Preakness Stakes but returned on 5 June for the Belmont takes, a race which featured Charimatics attempt to become the first winner of the Triple Crown in more than 20 years. Ridden by José A. Santos he came from well off the pace to overtake Charismatic in the stretch and held off the rallying outsider Vision And Verse to win by a head.[3] After the race, most of the attention went to Charismatic, who sustained a career-ending injury, rather than to the winner.[4]

In August Lemon Drop Kid followed up in the Travers Stakes, beating Vision And Verse again, with Menifee and Cat Thief among the other beaten horses.[5] Santos commented "I hope he gets a little credit now. After the Belmont all eyes were on Charismatic but Lemon Drop Kid won the race. He had to prove he's the real deal. In my heart he's one of the best".[6]

In 2000 Edgar Prado took over from Santos as Lemon Drop Kid's regular jockey. He recorded Grade I wins in the Brooklyn Handicap, Suburban Handicap, Whitney Handicap and Woodward Stakes. At the end of the year he was named U.S. Champion Older Male Horse.

## Stud career[edit]

Lemon Drop Kid was pensioned from stud duty in 2021.[7] He will continue to live at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he stood for his entire breeding career.[8] His first crop of foals in 2005 produced three stakes winners. His second crop in 2006 produced three more stakes winners, including the filly Lemons Forever, the longshot winner of the 2006 Kentucky Oaks. Other Grade I winners have included Somali Lemonade, Richard's Kid (Pacific Classic), Cannock Chase (Canadian International Stakes), Beach Patrol (Arlington Million, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic), Lemon Pop (February Stakes) and Santa Teresita (Santa Maria Handicap).[9]

Through his daughter Lemons Forever, Lemon Drop Kid is the broodmare sire of multiple Gr.I winner Forever Unbridled and Gr.I winner Unbridled Forever.

Lemon Drop Kid's notable progeny include:[10]

* Beach Patrol- Winner of the Arlington Million, Secretariat Stakes, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
* Lemons Forever\- Winner of the Kentucky Oaks
* Somali Lemonade\- Winner of the Diana Stakes, Gallorette Handicap, Jessamine Stakes,
* Cannock Chase-Winner of the Canadian International Stakes, Tercentenary Stakes, Huxley's layer
* Da Big Hoss- Winner of the Elkhorn Stakes, John B. Connally Turf Cup, American St. Leger Stakes, Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (twice)
* Richard's Kid- Winner of the Pacific Classic Stakes (twice), Goodwood Stakes, Cougar II Handicap (twice), San Antonio Handicap
* Santa Teresita- Winner of the Santa Maria Handicap
* Romantic Vision- Winner of the Spinster Stakes, Locust Grove Stakes
* Cosmonaut- Winner of the Fort Marcy Stakes, Arlington Handicap (twice), Golden Gate Fields Handicap, Tampa Bay Stakes
* Citronnade- Winner of the Gamely Stakes, Dahlia Stakes, Beverly Hills Handicap, Santa Ana Handicap, San Gorgonio H.
* Kiss the Kid- Winner of the Cliff Hanger Stakes, Appleton Stakes, Fort Lauderdale Stakes
* Kid Cruz- Winner of the Dwyer Stakes, Excelsior Stakes, John B. Campbell Stakes, Private Terms Stakes
* Inspector Lynley- Winner of the Saranac Stakes, Tampa Bay Stakes
* Kid Friendly- Winner at Saratoga and Penn National Stakes nominated
* Lemon Pop \- Winner of the February Stakes and Champions Cup in Japan.

## Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Lemon Drop Kid (USA), bay stallion, 1996[1] Sire
Kingmambo (USA)
1990  | Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970  | Raise a Native | Native Dancer

|
|
|

Raise You
Gold Digger | Nashua
Sequence
Miesque (USA)
1984  | Nureyev | Northern Dancer
Special
Pasadoble  | Prove Out
Santa Quilla
Dam
Charming Lassie (USA)
1987  | Seattle Slew (USA)
1974  | Bold Reasoning | Boldnesian
Reason To Earn
My Charmer  | Poker
Fair Charmer
Lassie Dear (USA)
1974  | Buckpasser | Tom Fool
Busanda
Gay Missile  | Sir Gaylord
Missy Baba (Family: 3-l)[2]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Lemon Drop Kid pedigree". Equineline.
2. ^ a b "Mayonaise – Family 3-L". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
3. ^ "Belmont Stakes result". Racing Post. June 5, 1999.
4. ^ "Lemon Drop Kid Wins Belmont". CBS News.
5. ^ "Travers Stakes result". Racing Post. August 28, 1999.
6. ^ Ed Fountaine (August 29, 1999). "Lemon Drop Kid Takes Travers". New York Post.
7. ^ "Lemon Drop Kid Pensioned at Lane's End". Bloodhorse.com. Bloodhorse.
8. ^ "Lemon Drop Kid". Blood Horse. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
9. ^ "Lemon Drop Kid – Progeny –". Racing Post.
10. ^ "Lemon Drop Kid on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

## External links[edit]

* Lemon Drop Kid's pedigree, with photo
* Video at YouTube of Lemon Drop Kid's win in the 1999 Belmont Stakes

* v
* t
* e

Belmont Stakes winners

* 1867 Ruthless ♥
* 1868 General Duke
* 1869 Fenian
* 1870 Kingfisher
* 1871 Harry Bassett
* 1872 Joe Daniels
* 1873 Springbok
* 1874 Saxon
* 1875 Calvin
* 1876 Algerine
* 1877 Cloverbrook
* 1878 Duke Of Magenta
* 1879 Spendthrift
* 1880 Grenada
* 1881 Saunterer
* 1882 Forester
* 1883 George Kinney
* 1884 Panique
* 1885 Tyrant
* 1886 Inspector B
* 1887 Hanover
* 1888 Sir Dixon
* 1889 Eric
* 1890 Burlington
* 1891 Foxford
* 1892 Patron
* 1893 Commanche
* 1894 Henry of Navarre
* 1895 Belmar
* 1896 Hastings
* 1897 Scottish Chieftain
* 1898 Bowling Brook
* 1899 Jean Bereaud
* 1900 Ildrim
* 1901 Commando
* 1902 Masterman
* 1903 Africander
* 1904 Delhi
* 1905 Tanya ♥
* 1906 Burgomaster
* 1907 Peter Pan
* 1908 Colin
* 1909 Joe Madden
* 1910 Sweep
* 1913 Prince Eugene
* 1914 Luke McLuke
* 1915 The Finn
* 1916 Friar Rock
* 1917 Hourless
* 1918 Johren
* 1919 Sir Barton ₩
* 1920 Man o' War
* 1921 Grey Lag
* 1922 Pillory
* 1923 Zev
* 1924 Mad Play
* 1925 American Flag
* 1926 Crusader
* 1927 Chance Shot
* 1928 Vito
* 1929 Blue Larkspur
* 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
* 1931 Twenty Grand
* 1932 Faireno
* 1933 Hurryoff
* 1934 Peace Chance
* 1935 Omaha ₩
* 1936 Granville
* 1937 War Admiral ₩
* 1938 Pasteurized
* 1939 Johnstown
* 1940 Bimelech
* 1941 Whirlaway ₩
* 1942 Shut Out
* 1943 Count Fleet ₩
* 1944 Bounding Home
* 1945 Pavot
* 1946 Assault ₩
* 1947 Phalanx
* 1948 Citation ₩
* 1949 Capot
* 1950 Middleground
* 1951 Counterpoint
* 1952 One Count
* 1953 Native Dancer
* 1954 High Gun
* 1955 Nashua
* 1956 Needles
* 1957 Gallant Man
* 1958 Cavan
* 1959 Sword Dancer
* 1960 Celtic Ash
* 1961 Sherluck
* 1962 Jaipur
* 1963 Chateaugay
* 1964 Quadrangle
* 1965 Hail To All
* 1966 Amberoid
* 1967 Damascus
* 1968 Stage Door Johnny
* 1969 Arts and Letters
* 1970 High Echelon
* 1971 Pass Catcher
* 1972 Riva Ridge
* 1973 Secretariat ₩
* 1974 Little Current
* 1975 Avatar
* 1976 Bold Forbes
* 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
* 1978 Affirmed ₩
* 1979 Coastal
* 1980 Temperence Hill
* 1981 Summing
* 1982 Conquistador Cielo
* 1983 Caveat
* 1984 Swale
* 1985 Creme Fraiche
* 1986 Danzig Connection
* 1987 Bet Twice
* 1988 Risen Star
* 1989 Easy Goer
* 1990 Go and Go
* 1991 Hansel
* 1992 A.P. Indy
* 1993 Colonial Affair
* 1994 Tabasco Cat
* 1995 Thunder Gulch
* 1996 Editor's Note
* 1997 Touch Gold
* 1998 Victory Gallop
* 1999 Lemon Drop Kid
* 2000 Commendable
* 2001 Point Given
* 2002 Sarava
* 2003 Empire Maker
* 2004 Birdstone
* 2005 Afleet Alex
* 2006 Jazil
* 2007 Rags to Riches ♥
* 2008 Da' Tara
* 2009 Summer Bird
* 2010 Drosselmeyer
* 2011 Ruler on Ice
* 2012 Union Rags
* 2013 Palace Malice
* 2014 Tonalist
* 2015 American Pharoah ₩
* 2016 Creator
* 2017 Tapwrit
* 2018 Justify ₩
* 2019 Sir Winston
* 2020 Tiz the Law
* 2021 Essential Quality
* 2022 Mo Donegal
* 2023 Arcangelo

Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly
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