Report: 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid dies at 28

Lemon Drop Kid, winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes and the champion older horse of 2000, died at age 28.

Lemon Drop Kid died at Lane's End Farm, where he had stood stud and remained after being pensioned, according to a report from Daily Racing Form. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.

Trained by Scotty Schulhofer for Jeanne Vance throughout his racing career, Lemon Drop Kid emerged at the top level as a 2-year-old. He graduated at second asking at Saratoga, won the Futurity (G1) at Belmont by 1/2 length over Yes It's True and also finished second in the Champagne (G1).

With time, Lemon Drop Kid got even better. Though he only finished ninth behind Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, he rallied to win the Belmont by a head over Vision and Verse five weeks later. A second-place finish in the Jim Dandy (G2) had him ready to shine again in the Travers (G1), where he defeated Vision and Verse by 3/4 length.

Lemon Drop Kid was the leading older horse in 2000, age 4. He won five of his nine starts including four straight graded-stakes wins between June and September: the Brooklyn (G2), the Suburban (G2), the Whitney (G1), and then a gritty head victory over Behrens in the Woodward (G1). Though he was defeated in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic, his final two starts, his resume was strong enough to earn him the Eclipse.

After retiring, Lemon Drop Kid retired to stud, standing at Lane's End farm from 2001 until being pensioned in 2020. A son of French champion Kingmambo out of Charming Lassie, a half-sister to Weekend Surprise who was the dam of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, Lemon Drop Kid's top progeny include Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Lemons Forever and two-time Champions Cup (G1) winner Lemon Pop. Other progeny who won at the top level include Beach Patrol, Cannock Chase, Christmas Kid, Citronnade, Richard's Kid, Romantic Vision, Santa Teresita and Somali Lemonade. He is also the broodmare sire of four Breeders' Cup winners: Distaff winner Forever Unbridled, Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz and Filly & Mare Sprint winners Bar of Gold and Finest City.

Lemon Drop Kid will be buried in the stallion cemetery at Lane's End Farm, where he not only stood stud but also the place of his birth.