Lemon Pop

2020/2021: two/three-year old season

Lemon Pop made his debut at the Tokyo Racecourse on November 7, 2020, in a race on dirt for two-year old newcomers over 1,300 meters, and won the race with Keita Tosaki in the saddle.^[6] Three weeks later, he won the Cattleya Stakes.^[7] In his three-year old season, he was pre-registered to the UAE Derby^[8] and the Kentucky Derby^[9] but was withdrawn and sent to graze.^[10] After a long rest, he finally returned on December 12, 2021, racing in Shukugawa Tokubetsu at Hanshin Racecourse. He was ridden by Cristian Demuro this time and lost to second place.^[11]

2022: four-year old season

Lemon Pop made his four-year old debut on January 5, 2022, with Cristian Demuro still on his saddle but lost to second place again. Three weeks later he was reunited with Keita Tosaki and won his second race of the season, finally entering the three-win class. He went on to win three consecutive races, the Kamakura Stakes on April 24,^[12] the Keyaki Stakes on May 28,^[13] and after a long rest, the Perseus Stakes on October 30.^[14] He finally made his graded stakes debut on November 12 in the grade 3 Musashino Stakes at the Tokyo Racecourse over a distance of 1,600 meters.^[15] Still ridden by Keita Tosaki,^[16] he went on and took the lead from Bathrat Leon in the final straight but got caught by Gilded Mirror right by the nose in the final moments, he finished in second place.^[17]

2023: five-year old season

Lemon Pop started his five-year old season on January 29, 2023, racing in the grade 3 Negishi Stakes, and still ridden by Keita Tosaki. Cutting back the distance to 1,400 meters, he was able to hold off the late surging Gilded Mirror, finally achieving his first graded stakes victory.^[18][19][20]

On February 8, it was announced that his next race is the February Stakes at the Tokyo Racecourse on February 19, his first grade 1 stakes race challenge, with Ryusei Sakai replacing Keita Tosaki on the saddle.^[21][22][23] His trainer, Hiroyasu Tanaka, mentioned, "He had a tough race the last time (Negishi Stakes), but he worked hard to recover last week and his fatigue has worn off already."^[22] On race day, he was the most popular horse with the winning odds of 2.2. He got off to a decent start and traveled in a good position throughout the back stretch and into the third and fourth corners. Entering into the final stretch, he finally took the lead from Dry Stout and continued to charge forward, with Red le Zele surging from the far outside, he worked hard to maintain his lead and successfully held off Red le Zele, winning the race and achieving his first grade 1 stakes victory.^{[24][25][26][27]} The day after the race, Hiroyasu Tanaka's assistant trainer said, "He ran hard, so he's obviously tired both physically and mentally.^[28] He's had two tough races in a row in a short period of time, and he's a hard working horse. He maintained his appetite so he's eating well, he's still very motivated."^[29]

He was registered to run in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 25 at Meydan Racecourse.^[28][29] He ran in the Dubai Golden Shaheen as planned. Starting the race as the top most popular horse at the winning odds of 2.7 but he lost to 10th place, ending his current winning streak, and placing outside of second for the first time in his career. Hiroyasu Tanaka said in an interview, "It was his first 1,200 meter race, the flow of the race was tough for him. The pace produced by the world's top horses confused him and when he was urged on, there was no response. I need to rethink whether the distance was right for him or not, he looked so puzzled today. The world stage is tougher than I imagined. We have decided to let him rest for now. We will start over with him and show everyone an even stronger Lemon Pop next time."^[30]

He took a break until autumn and returned to race in the domestic grade 1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai on October 9 at Morioka Racecourse.^[31] At race day, he was the most popular horse at 1.5 winning odds. He took an early lead in the race and led all the way entering into the final straight. He further lengthened his lead with no one else challenged him, finishing the race with more than ten lengths ahead of Igniter, setting a record win in lengths in the history of the race.^[32][33]

On October 11, Godolphin Japan's representative, Harry Sweeney, mentioned regarding his next race, "We haven't decided yet but we do have three options, the 6-furlong JBC Sprint, the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, or the 9-furlong Champions Cup ran on early December".^[34] On the 17th, it was decided that his next race will be in Champions Cup on December 3 at Chukyo Racecourse, with jockey Ryusei Sakai still in his saddle. This will be his first two-turn race and his first at 1,800 meters.^[35] On race day, he was the top most popular horse at winning odds of 3.8. He started from the widest gate and took the lead immediately before entering the first corner. He maintained the lead well into the back stretch and into the third and fourth corners. Entering the final stretch with Dura Erede looming from his right, he started to lengthen his lead well into the final furlongs of the race, with no one else to catch him until Wilson Tesoro ran a late charge from the outside but was unable to take the lead. He won the race with a length and a quarter away from Wilson Tesoro, making him the fourth horse in history to win both the February Stakes and the Champions Cup in the same year, the first time in six years since Gold Dream in 2017.^[36][37] He was awarded by the JRA as the best dirt horse for 2023.^[3]