Right from the first time setting foot on the track at the end of 2020, lemon pop (Lemon Drop Kid) has always hinted at top possibility, and the beautiful-bred 5-year-old won the first major prize of his career with a harrowing victory at G3 Negishi S. on Sunday , the stepping stone to G1 February S. in three weeks’ time.
Awkwardly away from the 13th hole, Keeneland’s $70,000 weaning purchase in November on behalf of Godolphin improved to race in the second race about three miles from the lap in the opening half-mile. Dragged four paths away from the 600-meter post, the chestnut took the lead with a little more distance to race and finished ready to make a quick finish. Gold Plated Mirror (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), reversed the form of their last meeting in the G3 Musashino S. of this track by more than a mile on November 12. Lemon Pop is running his record through Tokyo 1400 meters into year from year.
Unreachable, daughter of Harpia, the full older sister of the legendary Danehill (Danzig) who earned a Class III and is also half of the New York-based Redesdale stallion (Sightstown), was replaced with a 3-year-old starter pair for Juddmonte and Dermot Weld and was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock, on behalf of former Darley CEO Olly Tait and his wife, Amber, for 165,000 gns ($278,915) at Tattersalls December 2012 sale.
Unreachable was unable to sell for $55,000 at the Keeneland Jan Sale in 2020, and the pony she was carrying at the time, a good magic colt, was purchased for $325,000 by China Horse Club/Gandharvi at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in 2021 before CHC acquired their partner for $240,000 during the HORA portion of last year’s KEENOV sale. The mare is also responsible for a 2 year old foal by good magica longing Music by Maclean colt and is bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale for 2023. Lemon Pop’s third dam also includes Danehill’s brilliantly accomplished brothers Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth. Lemon Pop is the 107th stake winner and the 49th winner/group for the now 27 year old Lemon Drop Kid.
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NEGISHI S.-G3¥76,810,000, Tokyo, 1-29, 4yo/up, 1400m, 1:22.50, gd.
first-LEMON POP, 126, h, 5, by Lemon Drop Kid
Dam One: Unreachable, by Giant’s Causeway
Second Dam: Harpia, by Danzig
3rd dam: Razyana, by Her Majesty
WIN THE FIRST BLACK TYPE. GROUP 1 WINNER. ($70,000 Wlg ’18 KEENOV). O-Godolphin; B-Mr & Mrs. Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Hiroyasu Tanaka; J-Keita Tosaki; 40,567,000 yen. Lifetime record: 10-7-3-0, $1,313,929. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click to view eNicks report & pedigree 5 cross. click for Free Equineline.com catalog style genealogy.
2-Gold Plated Mirror (Jpn), 121, m, 6, Orfevre (Jpn)–Titan Queen, by Tiznow. Automobile racing; B-Northern Farm; 16,164,000 yen.
3–Battle Cry (Jpn), 123, c, 4, Isla Bonita (Jpn)–Dear Comet (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). OG Riviere·Racing; Dearest B-Club; 10,082,000 yen.
Handicap: HF, 3/4, NK. Ratio: 0.60, 4.10, 11.80.
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