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Where's the silver lining?

Schulhofer's 2nd Belmont win overshadowed again

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Posted: Monday June 07, 1999 05:58 PM

Since being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, Schulhofer has won the Belmont twice. Matthew Stockman/Allsport

NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- Scotty Schulhofer won the Belmont again, but in a repeat of history the victory will forever be overshadowed by an injury to the favorite.

In 1993, Schulhofer's Colonial Affair won the Belmont, but the race was marred when Kentucky Derby winner Prairie Bayou broke down on the backstretch and was humanely destroyed.

On another bittersweet Saturday at Belmont Park, Schulhofer's Lemon Drop Kid won the 131st Belmont as Charismatic, poised to become the 12th Triple Crown champion, sustained a career-ending injury -- a fractured left leg -- near the wire in finishing third.

"Naturally, I hate to see a horse get hurt," Schulhofer said, "You know I would feel much better if it hadn't happened."

But even though it did, Schulhofer was proud of Lemon Drop Kid, who went off at odds of 29-1, and paid $61.60 on a $2 bet.

"He came over to the track great and I've said ever since we put him in training, he's been a nice horse," Schulhofer, who celebrated his 73rd birthday on May 30. "We've never had a problem with him. He just needed a little time to get going and he peaked on the right day."

Lemon Drop Kid, who was ridden by Jose Santos, finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness and finished third to Best of Luck in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 23.

Schulhofer, inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1992, is one of New York's most respected trainers. He was credited with giving Julie Krone a chance to become a top rider, and she rewarded him by winning the '93 Belmont aboard Colonial Affair and becoming the first woman to win a Triple Crown race.

Unlike the '93 Belmont, Schulhofer was a not as confident sending Lemon Drop Kid against Charismatic, and other potential spoilers Silverbulletday, who finished seventh, and Menifee, who was eighth.

"When Colonial Affair won, I was very confident," Schulhofer said. "I told Julie to just wait and make your move. Yesterday, I was not as confident as I was today. I had a great feeling in the paddock."

All week, Schulhofer has low-keyed his 3-year-old son of Kingmambo. But Lemon Drop Kid won for the fourth time in 10 career starts.

"We finally got our race track, and got a good clean trip, and everything worked," Schulhofer said. "In the Blue Grass, we didn't get much of a trip and in the Derby we got stuck outside. The Peter Pan was over a sloppy track and today it all came together."

Schulhofer, who grew up in Aiken, S.C., where his father owned a riding academy, has trained four Eclipse Award winners, including 2-year-old colt champion Fly So Free in 1990.

 

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Lemon Drop Kid wins Belmont; Charismatic fractures leg
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.