Medal Count colt wins Monmouth MdSpWt on debut to become sire’s first winner

Gin and Platonic, 2yo colt by Medal Count, goes wire to wire on debut in a $48,600 MdSpWt Sunday at Monmouth | Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

Spendthrift Farm freshman sire Medal Count was represented by his first winner when his two-year-old colt Gin and Platonic won on debut at Monmouth Park in a $48,600 Maiden Special Weight race on dirt.

Campaigned by owner Mr. Amore Stable and trainer Kelly Breen, the bay colt overcame his rail post with a sharp break and good early speed in the 4 ½-furlong race. He dueled most of the way before inching away late and proving best by a half-length as the favorite under jockey Reylu Gutierrez, stopping the clock in 52.75 seconds over a fast local dirt track.

Bred in Kentucky by Allen Poindexter, Kevin Welsh and Deann Baer, Gin and Platonic is out of the Orientate mare Blue Samurai. He was purchased by Mr. Amore Stable earlier this year for $45,000 at the OBS March Sale after posting one of the fastest eighth-of-a-mile breezes of the session in 10 seconds flat. Gin and Platonic earned $27,000 for his debut win Sunday.

Medal Count retired to stud at Spendthrift as the last Classic-placed son of Dynaformer. A 2-year-old winner on dirt himself, he became a graded stakes winner at Keeneland with a win in the Transylvania S. (G3) over the main track as a 3-year-old. One week later, Medal Count finished runner-up in the Blue Grass S. (G1). He went on to be a close third in the Belmont S. (G1), finishing a length behind Tonalist and ahead of California Chrome.

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. His first crop of two-year-olds have sold for up to $123,585 at Arqana already at this year’s two-year-olds-in-training sales.

Medal Count, who’s standing 2019 for a fee of $3,500 S&N, is one of six freshman sires that are participating in the “Safe Bet” program – Spendthrift’s new breeding program for 2019.

For more information about Medal Count or the Safe Bet program, please visit SpendthriftFarm.com/MedalCount or SpendthriftFarm.com/SafeBet, or contact Des, Mark, or Brian at 859-294-0030.