Medal Count Retired to Spendthrift Farm
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Grade III winner and classic-placed Medal Count, a son of Dynaformer, has been retired and will stand stud in 2016 at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm near Lexington as the newest participant in the farm's Share The Upside Program.
The Share The Upside fee for last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) third-place finisher will be $6,500 stands and 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 and nurses contract for a fee of $5,000 live foal.
"Medal Count is very similar to Temple City , another grade I-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."
Spendthrift Farm's Medal Count finished third, just one length behind Tonalist, in last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and he also finished second in last year's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). A maiden debut winner at 2 at Ellis Park, Medal Count won the Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) last year on the Keeneland Polytrack, when the race was moved from the turf.
"Medal Count is a unique Dynaformer because he was precocious and had grade I ability on the dirt," said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. "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 winner at age 2. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Medal Count was a $360,000 yearling purchase by Spendthrift at the 2012 Keeneland September sale.