Mr. A.P. to face older horses in Goodwood
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Mr. A. P., best known for finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November, will race against older horses for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Vladimir Cerin said.
Cerin said Joel Rosario, the leading rider at the recently concluded Del Mar summer meeting, will ride Mr. A. P., who races for David and Holly Wilson.
Mr. A. P. has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $484,670. He has had three starts this year, all on turf - a second-place finish in the Oceanside Handicap for 3-year-olds at Del Mar in July, a win in an allowance race at Del Mar in August, and a ninth-place finish in a field of 14 as the 4-1 third choice in the $1.74 million Gun Runner Stakes on the undulating course at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7.
“I think he didn’t like Kentucky Downs,” Cerin said. “I don’t think he’s a grass horse.”
The $300,000 Goodwood is run at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and older horses on dirt. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
The Goodwood will be Mr. A. P.’s first start on dirt since the BC Juvenile, in which he finished a length behind Ted Noffey.
The Goodwood will be Mr. A.P.’s longest race.
“I don’t think the distance is a problem,” Cerin said.
Mr. A. P. was claimed for $150,000 by the Wilsons and Cerin at Del Mar in his first start in July 2025.
The Goodwood Stakes is one of seven stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sept. 27, several with Breeders’ Cup implications.
Saturday’s program includes the three Grade 2 races on turf worth $200,000 – the John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles, the Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, and the City of Hope Mile.
The Grade 3 John C. Harris Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course is part of Saturday’s program.
There are two Grade 2 races on dirt worth $200,000 on Sunday – the Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs.
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