A P Valentine

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = A P Valentine


caption =
sire = A.P. Indy
grandsire = Seattle Slew
dam = Twenty Eight Carat
damsire = Alydar
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1998
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Bay
breeder = W. S. Kilroy
owner = Celtic Pride Stable
trainer = Nick Zito
record = 13:3-3-2
earnings = $864,170
race = Champagne Stakes (2000)
updated= September 19, 2007

A P Valentine (foaled February 14, 1998) is a retired Grade I-winning Thoroughbred racehorse sired by A.P. Indy out of an Alydar mare, Twenty Eight Carat.

Two-year-old campaign

Trained by Nick Zito and owned by Celtic Pride Stable, a partnership led by Rick Pitino, A P Valentine began his racing career at Saratoga with a third place finish in a maiden special weight. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2000/October/31/Coolmore-obtains-breeding-rights-to-A-P-Valentine.aspx Coolmore obtains breeding rights to A P Valentine - Thoroughbred Times ] ] In his next start at Belmont, he did manage to break his maiden by over 4 lengths.

Zito was so impressed by A P Valentine's performance in breaking his maiden, that he entered him in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont. The horse did not disappoint, squeezing by eventual United States Horse of the Year Point Given on the rail and pulling away to win by 1.75 lengths. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2000/October/14/Champagne-Stakes-recap-A-P-Valentine-squeezes-through-on-the-rail.aspx Champagne Stakes rec
] ]

Following the Champagne, Coolmore purchased the breeding rights to AP Valentine for $15.1 million. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2000/October/31/Coolmore-obtains-breeding-rights-to-A-P-Valentine.aspx Coolmore obtains breeding rights to A P Valentine - Thoroughbred Times ] ]

He made his final start of 2000 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. While he went off as the favorite, he was never a factor and came home in last place. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2000/November/04/Breeders-Cup-Juvenile-recap-Macho-Uno-edges-Point-Given.aspx Breeders' Cup Juvenile rec
] ]

Three-year-old campaign

He began his three year old campaign at Gulfstream where he was upset in an allowance race. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=2878 Hero's Tribute Upsets A P Valentine in Gulfstream Allowance| bloodhorse.com ] ] However, in his next start, A P Valentine managed to break the track record for 1 1/16 miles at Hialeah, romping by 3.75 lengths in an optional claimer. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=3393 A P Valentine Breaks Track Record at Hialeah Park| bloodhorse.com ] ] For A P Valentine, that would be the last victory of his career.

In his three year old stakes debut in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, he was not a factor and ran fifth. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2001/April/21/Strong-Wind-in-Blue-Grass.aspx Strong Wind in Blue Grass - Thoroughbred Times ] ] He turned in yet another lackluster performance in the Kentucky Derby [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/horseracing/2001/triplecrown/news/2001/05/05/derby_main_ap/ CNNSI.com - 2001 Triple Crown - Monarchos second fastest in winning Derby - Sunday May 06, 2001 10:31 PM ] ] before regaining the form he showed as a two year old with runner-up performances to Point Given in both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/horseracing/2001/triplecrown/news/2001/05/19/preakness_notebook_ap/ CNNSI.com - 2001 Triple Crown - Notebook: A P Valentine rebounds as well - Saturday May 19, 2001 09:51 PM ] ] [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/horseracing/2001/triplecrown/news/2001/06/09/belmont_stakes_ap/ CNNSI.com - 2001 Triple Crown - Point Given runs away with Belmont Stakes - Sunday June 10, 2001 02:30 AM ] ]

In the summer of 2001, he ran in the Jim Dandy Stakes, finishing fourth after losing a battle with Congaree for the show position. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2001/August/11/Lukas-stings-Jim-Dandy-with-Scorpion.aspx Lukas stings Jim Dandy with Scorpion - Thoroughbred Times ] ] He followed with another fourth in the Travers Stakes. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=5582 'Big Red Train' Rolls to Fourth Straight Grade I Win| bloodhorse.com ] ]

AP Valentine made one final start in his career, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a race that would be his only career race against older horses. After finishing in sixth, 29.5 lengths behind the winner, AP Valentine was retired. He finished his career with a record of three wins, three places and two shows in 13 starts and $864,170 in earnings.

Retirement and fertility problems

Following his retirement, he was shipped to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky where he stood for a fee of $15,000. [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2001/October/07/Beautiful-Pleasure-A-P-Valentine-retired.aspx Beautiful Pleasure, A P Valentine retired - Thoroughbred Times ] ]

In his first year at stud, A P Valentine was discovered to have fertility issues, [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=8462 First-Year Stallion A P Valentine Having Fertility Problems| bloodhorse.com ] ] which led to Coolmore retiring him from stud duty. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=8673 It's Over: A P Valentine Retired From Stud Duty| bloodhorse.com ] ] However, after working with a fertility specialist, he was put back into stud duty and sent to Cedar Creek Farm in Brenham, Texas. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=19905 A P Valentine to Cedar Creek in Texas| bloodhorse.com ] ]

Finally, in July 2006, Higgie, a two-year old A P Valentine filly out of a mare named Aces won a five furlong maiden claimer at Monmouth Park. [ [http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=34334 A P Valentine Represented by First Winner| bloodhorse.com ] ]

A P Valentine is currently standing at Cedar Creek with a stud fee of $5,000. [ [http://www.texasthoroughbred.com/images/stallions/apvalentine2006.pdf SR1.pdf ] ]

Races

Breeding

Pedigree
name = A P Valentine
f = A.P. Indy
m = Twenty Eight Carat
ff = Seattle Slew
fm = Weekend Surprise
mf = Alydar
mm = Voodoo Dance
fff = Bold Reasoning
ffm = My Charmer
fmf = Secretariat
fmm = Lassie Dear
mff = Raise a Native
mfm = Sweet Tooth
mmf = Stage Door Johnny
mmm = Witch Dance
ffff = Boldnesian
fffm = Reason to Earn
ffmf = Poker
ffmm = Fair Charmer
fmff = Bold Ruler
fmfm = Somethingroyal
fmmf = Buckpasser
fmmm = Gay Missile
mfff = Native Dancer
mffm = Raise You
mfmf = On-and-On
mfmm = Plum Cake
mmff = Prince John
mmfm = Peroxide Blonde
mmmf = Northern Dancer
mmmm = Shama|

External links

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/a+p+valentine A P Valentine's Pedigree Information]
* [http://www.texasthoroughbred.com/images/stallions/apvalentine2006.pdf A P Valentine's Texas Stallion Registry Page]

References