Medal Count, Classic-placed son of Dynaformer, retires to Spendthrift

Medal Count, Dynaformer’s Classic-placed 3-year-old of 2014, has been retired and will stand stud in 2016 at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm in Lexington as the newest participant in the farm’s renowned Share The Upside Program.

His Share The Upside fee will be $6,500 stands & nurses on a one-year commitment, and breeders will earn a lifetime breeding right in Medal Count after producing just one live foal in 2017. Medal Count will also be available on a traditional stands & nurses contract for a fee of $5,000 live foal.

“Medal Count is very similar to Temple City, another G1-performing Dynaformer we raced and then retired to stud on our Share The Upside program,” said Hughes. “Temple City has proven to be successful for our Share The Upside partners, and he booked full in 2015 at a substantially higher fee than his original Share The Upside price. Medal Count could be the last top son of Dynaformer to enter stud, and we feel like he’s another good opportunity for breeders through our Share The Upside program.”

Medal Count broke onto the scene as a 2-year-old with a 6 ¼-length debut win on dirt against Maiden Special Weight company. After competing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Medal Count opened his 3-year-old campaign with a victory against Allowance company at Gulfstream before becoming a graded stakes winner in Keeneland’s Transylvania S. (G3).

Returning on just eight days rest following his Transylvania score, Medal Count finished a strong runner-up in the Blue Grass S. (G1) to earn a berth into the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Run for the Roses proved to be full of traffic trouble for Medal Count, however he went on to become Classic-placed in the third jewel of the Triple Crown – the Belmont S. (G1) – when finishing a valiant third. Medal Count was beaten only a length by Tonalist, and finished ahead of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner California Chrome. He retires sound with earnings of $480,671.

“Medal Count is a unique Dynaformer because he was precocious and had Grade 1 ability on the dirt,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “You don’t see many of them win their debut on dirt as 2-year-olds, and then become Classic-placed on dirt as 3-year-olds. Like Temple City, Medal Count has a strong dirt female family, and is more refined than your typical Dynaformer, while still possessing the soundness and toughness that’s synonymous with that sire line. We believe breeders are going to like Medal Count and the value he presents.”

Out of the graded stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare Brisquette, Medal Count is a half-brother to Garden District, a graded stakes-winning 2-year-old filly. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Medal Count was a $360,000 yearling purchase by Spendthrift at Keeneland September.