Dwyer Stakes winner Medallist has been retired to stud.
Robert N. Clay has announced the retirement of his homebred grade II winner Medallist because of a fractured sesamoid. The 4-year-old son of Touch Gold last raced in the April 9 Carter Handicap (gr. I) and finished second to Forest Danger. He was prepping for the May 30 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) when the injury was detected. "Further examination showed that there was displacement in the fracture and so retirement is in his best interest," said Clay, who will stand Medallist at his Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.Medallist, who won five of a dozen starts and earned $421,375, set stakes records in both the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) and Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap last year. He captured the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer in 1:40.02 (after a mile in 1:33.27) at Belmont Park and the seven-furlong Kenny Noe Jr. in 1:22.62 at Calder Race Course. In his first start this year, he set a track record of 1:15.62 in winning the 6 1/2-furlong Deputy Minister Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. Medallist also won last year's Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct from Forest Danger."Medallist had as much speed as any horse I've been around, and he was very generous," said trainer Allen Jerkens. "It's with mixed emotions that we retire Medallist, because we thought he had some great races ahead of him," said Clay. "But he's a miler with great natural speed and he's a homebred standing at Three Chimneys, so we're excited."Medallist was bred by Clay and the Albert G. Clay 1990 Revocable Trust. The late Albert Clay was Robert Clay's father.Medallist is the second foal from the stakes-winning Star de Naskra mare Santaria, who was grade I stakes-placed in New York. Medallist will enter stud next year. His fee will be announced later.
