Cerin ‘Not in a Hurry’ With Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Runner-Up Mr. A. P.

[Wandering Eyes]

While chatting with owner David Wilson earlier this summer, trainer Vladimir Cerin mentioned a potential claim on Del Mar's July 31 program.

“I told him that someone asked me to claim a horse for $150,000, but I really didn't like the horse,” Cerin said. “And he said, 'Well, I like a different horse in that same race. Why don't we take him?'”

A fantastic longshot second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Oct. 31, Mr. A. P. (American Pharoah) is him.

Mr. A. P. was claimed by Cerin on behalf of David and Holly Wilson for $150,000 off BG Stables and Royalty Stable and trainer Hector Palma in his 5 1/2-furlong unveiling.

This is nothing new for Cerin and the Wilsons.

Both Early Pioneer (Rahy) and Designed for Luck (Rahy)–haltered by Cerin for $62,500 apiece–carried the couple's orange-and-white silks to Grade I victories. Early Pioneer won the 2000 GI Hollywood Gold Cup and Designed for Luck won the 2004 GI Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S., respectively.

“David Wilson picked the horse out, all I did is approve him,” Cerin said. “You could see all the videos online of his workouts and he looked good to me. But I didn't expect this good.”

Mr. A. P. followed his debut second as the even-money favorite in a $150,000 maiden claimer with another runner-up finish, this time in a maiden special weight, at Del Mar Aug. 31. The ridgling successfully stretched to two turns with a narrow maiden victory going a mile at Santa Anita Oct. 13.

He outran his 20-1 odds returning on short notice, finishing within a length of soon-to-be-crowned champion and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Mr. A. P. earned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter.

Victory belongs to Ted Noffey in the prestigious $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Juvenile, presented by @TBAftercare. #BC25 pic.twitter.com/hQ6PBwggzQ

— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2025

Bred in Kentucky by Pollock Farms, Mr. A. P. RNA'd for $47,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling. His MSW & GSP dam Trenchtown Cat (Discreet Cat) brought $500,000 from Reverie Farm while in foal to McKinzie earlier this month at Fasig-Tipton November.

“When Ted Noffey put (Bob) Baffert's horse (Brant) away, I think if we had gone even farther, I don't know if we would've caught him,” Cerin said. “But who's gonna complain about being second with a claiming horse?”

Cerin continued, “He's very sensible. He's real easy for me. He has no bad habits. He loves training. I don't know that we did anything for him or to him. His stride looked like he could run when we galloped him the first few days after (his debut) race. Obviously, we didn't expect this. We're glad that it happened the way it did.”

Mr. A. P. has remained in light training at Santa Anita, where he is expected to launch his sophomore campaign in 2026. The Southern California Road to the GI Kentucky Derby includes: the GII San Vicente S. (7f) Jan. 10; the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. (1m) Feb. 7; the GII San Felipe S. (1 1/16m) Mar. 7; and the GI Santa Anita Derby (1 1/8m) Apr. 4.

“We're just training very very lightly–tack walking, jogging,” Cerin said. “There are many options, and, I'd like to leave him in Southern California. Just gonna let him dictate when he's ready to run.”

Cerin concluded, “I'm 71, I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere.”

The post Cerin ‘Not in a Hurry’ With Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Runner-Up Mr. A. P. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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