Lemon Drop Kid just gets better with age

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 10, 2000

Wins in the 1999 Belmont and Travers stakes and Sunday's Grade I Whitney Handicap may not have earned Lemon Drop Kid much respect, but they're making owner Jeanne Vance plenty of money.

The respect payout could come Nov. 4 in the Breeders' Cup Classic if the 4-year-old maintains his status as the best older horse in the country.

"It looks to me like he's still improving," trainer Scotty Schulhofer said after the two-length win over Running Stag, Golden Missile and David. "It looks like he's at the top of his game, and all we have to do is keep him healthy and strong."

Strong like Vance's bank account.

The Whitney win gave Lemon Drop Kid three consecutive victories, a $680,000 winner's share and a $230,000 bonus for winning the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's champions bonus, a series of races for older horses.

ONLINE: www.stablegate.com, the first Web site dedicated to entertaining and informing the horse community, debuts Tuesday, but fans can get a pre-launch look now.

Conceived by eStable.com founder and president Paul Magnier, the site will feature daily news on thoroughbred racing, Western, English, rodeo, breeding, business, health, travel and youth riding. An online store also will be available.

Each section will have its own look and will be designed to appeal to participants in equine sports as much as fans, Magnier said.

"The goal of Stablegate.com is to wire the horse industry by bringing together its fragments," he said in a news release. "We believe the spirit of "co-opetition' will help every organization in the industry increase its exposure."

Stablegate.com attempted to increase its exposure by signing a deal with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to be the exclusive equine search engine for ESPN.com's horse racing section. It also will provide articles and information.

DONE DEAL: Coolmore Stud announced Wednesday that it has completed a deal with Japanese businessman Fusao Sekiguchi to purchase a controlling interest in Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, the Daily Racing Form reported.

Coolmore will gain 60 percent of the Mr. Prospector colt, according to the publication, with the Yoshida family, which owns Japan's Shadai Farm, acquiring 40 percent.

It was unclear whether the $60-million to $70-million Coolmore reportedly offered Sekiguchi was for a 100 percent interest or 60 percent.

Coolmore will move the colt to its Versailles, Ky., Ashford Stud after his racing career ends. The Coolmore release Wednesday stated: "The likelihood is that Fusaichi Pegasus will have one or two races prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic and will run in the colors of Mr. Sekiguchi."

CHARGE: Fusaichi Pegasus added another credit to his biography this week, cinching the 3-year-old Championship Series title despite not having run since finishing second in the Preakness.

Red Bullet spoiled Fusaichi Pegasus' Triple Crown hopes by beating him in Baltimore, but with two races left in the 47-event schedule, Frank Stronach's colt cannot overcome an 11-point deficit to Fusaichi Pegasus.

Wins in the San Felipe Stakes, the Wood Memorial and the Derby helped Fusaichi Pegasus secure the championship.

SET SALE: A colt by A.P. Indy out of Trumpet's Blare sold for $1.3-million Tuesday, setting the pace on the first day of the 80th annual Saratoga Yearling Sales.

John Ferguson Bloodstock was the buyer of the colt, which was consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC as agent for Meurfield East.

Forty-five head sold Tuesday for $12,032,000, an average of $267,378. Nine went unsold.

Last year on the first day, 49 were sold for $14,470,000, an average of $295,306. Nineteen were not sold.

HISTORY: Aug. 10, 1982: Mary Russ became the first female rider to surpass $1-million in earnings when she finished third aboard Bammer in the fourth race at Saratoga Racecourse. At the beginning of this week -- 18 years after Russ' milestone -- jockey Julie Krone became the first female inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.

Aug. 10, 1996: Cigar was denied a 17th straight victory when long shot Dare and Go passed him in the stretch of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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