Kentucky-bred Lemon Pop, campaigned by Godolphin, was awarded the Best Dirt Horse in Japan for the second straight year, it was announced in January.
A recent addition to Darley Japan’s stallion roster, Lemon Pop won the prize in 2023 after becoming just the fourth horse in history to win both JRA G1 races on the dirt in the same year. He captured the February Stakes and the Champions Cup that season. The son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Sakitama Hai and Mile Championship Nambu Hai on the NAR circuit in 2024. He capped off his successful career with a repeat win in the G1 Champions Cup t Chukyo last December, his third consecutive triumph.
All told, Lemon Pop won 13 races from 18 starts, banking more than $5.3 million. He was trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka. Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Tait, He is produced from the Giant’s Causeway mare Unreachable.