A P Valentine

A P Valentine
Sire	A.P. Indy
Grandsire	Seattle Slew
Dam	Twenty Eight Carat
Damsire	Alydar
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1998
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	William S. Kilroy
Owner	Celtic Pride Stable
Trainer	Nick Zito
Record	13:3–3–2
Earnings	$864,170
Major wins
Champagne Stakes (2000) American Classic Race placing: Preakness Stakes 2nd (2001)
Last updated on September 19, 2007

Champagne Stakes (2000)

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. His name was derived by splicing the beginning of his sire's name "A P" with the holiday that he was born on, "Valentine's Day".

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. In his next start at Belmont, he broke his maiden race in a dominant performance winning by over four 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 American Horse of the Year, Point Given on the rail and pulling away to win by 1-3/4 lengths.

Following the Champagne, Coolmore purchased the breeding rights to AP Valentine for $15.1 million.

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.

He began his three-year-old campaign at Gulfstream where he was upset in an allowance race. In his next start, A P Valentine managed not only to win but to break the track record for 1.1875 miles (1.9111 km) at Hialeah, romping by 3-3/4 lengths in an optional claimer. For A P Valentine, that would be the last victory of his career that spanned three years.

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