Lemons Forever, the dam of champion Forever Unbridled and Grade 1 winner Unbridled Forever, was named 2017 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year on Wednesday by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
A 15-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Lemons Forever is owned by Charles Fipke, who bought the mare for $2.5 million at the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The transaction came at the end of a career highlighted by a win in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks. At 47-1, she was the longest-priced winner in the race’s history.
Lemons Forever is the dam of four winners from five foals to race, with her greatest success coming from the full sisters Forever Unbridled and Unbridled Forever, both daughters of the late Unbridled’s Song.
Forever Unbridled earned the Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female of 2017 on the strength of a campaign that included victories in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes, and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap. She also earned Kentucky-bred older dirt female honors on Wednesday.
She won seven graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap and Beldame Stakes as well as the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes and Comely Stakes. She also finished third in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
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Forever Unbridled made her final start in the 2018 Dubai World Cup, where she finished fifth. She retired with eight wins in 18 starts and earnings of $3,486,880.
One year her elder is Unbridled Forever, whose four wins in 12 starts were highlighted by a score in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes. She finished in the money in five additional graded stakes races, including a second in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, and thirds in the Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Acorn Stakes.
Unbridled Forever was the third foal out of Lemons Forever, after Fipke had sent her to his own homebred sire Perfect Soul for her first two matings, producing the placed Perfect Forever and winner Forever Perfect.
After two visits to Unbridled’s Song, Fipke has sent Lemons Forever to Darley resident Medaglia d’Oro for her last six matings. The highlight from that group is Forever d’Oro who is stakes-placed.
Each of Lemons Forever’s runners has been kept to race as homebreds by Fipke, and they are typically trained by Dallas Stewart, who conditioned Lemons Forever and owned her with Horton Stable.
Lemons Forever is out of the Tough Critic mare Critikola, who was a multiple Group 2 winner in her native Argentina before coming to the U.S. Her three winners from four runners also includes stakes-placed Critikal Reason, who is the dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Bajan and Grade 3-placed Virtual Machine.
Her extended family skews heavily toward South American racing, featuring Chilean champions Frau Heidi, Soy Fiestero, Sanderman, and Staccato, along with Brazilian Group 1 winner Mr. Carrea and Argentine Group 3 winner Fray Amor.
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Champion Gun Runner took home honors as both Kentucky-bred horse of the Year and top older dirt male. The accolades followed up the son of Candy Ride earning the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male prior to his retirement to Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky.
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys, and bred by Ben Leon’s Besilu Stables, Gun Runner won five of six starts in 2017, all in Grade 1 company. His victories included the Stephen Foster Handicap, Whitney Stakes, Woodward Stakes, and a season finale in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Gun Runner finished his career in January with a score in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
Following is a complete list of winners from the KTOB/KTA awards.
Broodmare of the Year: Lemons Forever
Ch. m., 2003, Lemon Drop Kid-Critikola, by Tough Critic
Owner: Charles Fipke
Dam of Forever Unbridled, Unbridled Forever, and Forever d’Oro
Horse of the year, older dirt male: Gun Runner
Ch. h., 2013, Candy Ride-Quiet Giant, by Giant’s Causeway
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Besilu Stables
2-year-old male: Bolt d’Oro
B. c., 2015, Medaglia d’Oro-Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy
Owner: Mick Ruis
Trainer: Ruis Racing
Breeder: WinStar Farm
2-year-old female: Rushing Fall
B. f., 2015, More Than Ready-Autumnal, by Forestry
Owner: e Five Racing Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Fred Hertrich III & John Fielding
3-year-old male: West Coast
B. c., 2014, Flatter-Caressing, by Honour and Glory
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: CPF Thoroughbreds
3-year-old female: Abel Tasman
B. f., 2014, Quality Road-Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister
Owner: China Horse Club & Clearsky Farms
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Clearsky Farms
Older dirt female: Forever Unbridled
B. m., 2012, Unbridled’s Song-Lemons Forever, by Lemon Drop Kid
Owner-breeder: Charles Fipke
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Turf male: Beach Patrol
Dk. b. or br. h., 2013, Lemon Drop Kid-Bashful Bertie, by Quiet American
Owner: Covello, Head of Plains Partners & Sheep Pond Partners
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Nancy Shuford
Turf female: Lady Eli
Dk. b. or br. m., 2012, Divine Park-Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
Owner: Sheep Pond Partners
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Runnymede Farm & Catesby Clay
Male sprinter: Roy H
B. g., 2012, More Than Ready-Elusive Diva, by Elusive Quality
Owner: Rockingham Ranch & David Bernsen
Trainer: Peter Miller
Breeder: Ramona Bass
Female sprinter: Lady Aurelia
B. f., 2014, Scat Daddy-D’Wildcat Speed, by Forest Wildcat
Owner: Stonestreet Stables & Peter Leidel
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Racing abroad: Arrogate
Gr. or ro. h., 2013, Unbridled’s Song-Bubbler, by Distorted Humor
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Clearsky Farms
Steeplechase: Mr. Hot Stuff
Dk. b. or br. g., 2006, Tiznow-Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman
Owner: Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr.
Trainer: Jack Fisher
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Four merit awards were presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry.
P.A.B. Widener Trophy for KTOB Breeder of the Year: Clearsky Farms
Hardboot Breeders’ Award (pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders that help make up the backbone of the industry): Don M. Robinson
Charles W. Engelhard Award (acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry): Anne Eberhardt Keogh & Enzina Mastrippolito
William T. Young Humanitarian Award (distinguishes a person or organization in the Thoroughbred industry who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor): Central Kentucky Riding For Hope
Also receiving awards were the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money earners in 2017 in five separate categories.
KTDF Sire of the Year: Kitten’s Joy (Ramsey Farm)
KTDF Earner of the Year: Res Ipsa (Deborah V. Wilson)
KTDF Owner of the Year: G. Watts Humphrey Jr.
KTDF Trainer of the Year: Ian Wilkes
KTDF Breeder of the Year: Calumet Farm