Medallist, the first homebred to stand at Three Chimneys, was blessed with both speed and versatility. But it's the speed that everyone remembers. In his four stakes wins, he set three track or stakes records on three different tracks, at three different distances - ranging from 6-1/2 furlongs to a mile.

Medallist's stakes debut was on Derby Day of his 3-year-old year, when he won the one-mile Withers S.-G3 over previously undefeated Forest Danger. Medallist went head to head with Forest Danger through fractions of :44.06 and 1:07.90, before drawing off to a commanding three and a quarter length victory.

His winning time was a strong 1:34.49, and his 110 Beyer Speed Figure was the best by a three-year-old at a mile to that date.

Medallist next ran at Belmont, in the historic Dwyer S.-G2 at 1 1/16 miles. Rocketing out of the gate, Medallist seized the lead from the start, and sizzled through fractions of :44.45 and 1:07.96, before blasting past the mile marker in 1:33.27.

That was the seventh fastest mile (on the dirt) by a 3-year-old in history, and Medallist still had a sixteenth of a mile to run in the Grade 2 race, against the likes of The Cliff's Edge and Sir Shackleton. But he scampered home to a three and three-quarter length victory in 1:40.02.

That was a new stakes record in a race won by Man o'War, Gallant Fox, Twenty Grand, Omaha, Johnstown, Native Dancer, Nashua, Damascus and - in recent years Gone West, Seeking the Gold, Cherokee Run, Coronado's Quest, and Forestry. His time was a mere half second off the track record.

Veteran writer Steve Haskin called this performance "The best display of speed" by a three-year-old all year. Medallist also earned his second consecutive Triple Digit Beyer, a 112.

Medallist's next win was the $100,000 Kenny Noe Jr. H. over seven furlongs at Calder. Displaying a different style despite the sprint distance, he rated kindly in the field of nine. Then Medallist came four-wide at the half-mile pole, and galloped home, four and a half lengths in the clear.

Medallist set a new stakes record of 1:22.62, and also posted his highest Beyer Figure, 113, in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. Only two 3-year-olds in his crop received a higher Beyer all year long, and one of them was Smarty Jones. Medallist's 112 and 113 Beyer Figures were two of the Top Ten Beyers on the dirt for 3-year-olds of 2004. And Medallist was the only three-year-old to have two of the Top 10 Beyers on dirt that year.

Medallist began his four-year-old campaign the way he left his three-year-old campaign - with a record setting stakes victory. In the Deputy Minister H.-G3 at Gulfstream, Medallist shot from the gate and widened his advantage, winning the 6-1/2 furlong stakes in a track record 1:15.62.

Medallist concluded his career in the Grade I Carter H., running a close second to Forest Danger, in a blazing 1:20 and 4/5. Medallist's Hall of Fame trainer, Allen Jerkens, said "Medallist had as much speed as any horse I've been around and he was very generous."

A top miler with great natural speed, Medallist retired having won or placed eight times in 12 starts, and earning $421,375.

He is from the second crop of U.S. Classic winner Touch Gold, a son of Deputy Minister whose sons are already in demand as sires. Touch Gold sired a dual Grade I winner in his first crop and two Grade I winners in his second. His first three crops have earned over $10-million.

Medallist is out of a Grade I mare who won a stakes in her two-year-old debut. Santaria ran first or second seven times in her first eight starts, including the Grade I Acorn. She twice defeated champion Soaring Softly in New York, and ran right behind champion Banshee Breeze in two Grade I races.

Medallist's first four dams are stakes mares and/or stakes producers. He carries Northern Dancer 4x4 through Touch Gold and Tudor Minstrel 5x5 through Santaria. He is free of Mr. Prospector and Bold Ruler, and offers a superb compliment to mares from those lines.

A grand looking horse with record breaking speed and a pedigree beautifully balanced with classic and speed influences, Medallist bred a full book of fine mares his first season. His first foals arrive this year.