Since finishing as the runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at long odds of 20-1, Mr. A. P. has competed solely on turf in three starts. However, this Saturday, he will return to what his trainer Vladimir Cerin considers his favored surface in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race on the main track. The Goodwood serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.
Sired by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Mr. A. P. finished third in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar this summer following an 8½-month break, then captured a first-level allowance race on grass a month later. After shipping to Kentucky Downs for the lucrative Gun Runner Stakes at one mile on September 7, he struggled and finished ninth in a field of fourteen.
Trainer Cerin admitted uncertainty about Mr. A. P.’s affinity for turf, noting the poor performance at Kentucky Downs but added that the horse returned to strong workouts at home despite limited time for evaluation. Thirteen days after that Kentucky run, Mr. A. P. breezed five furlongs in 58.4 seconds at Santa Anita, a move Cerin used to ensure the horse was ready to race. Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, who has ridden Mr. A. P. in all his starts this year, will again be aboard in the Goodwood. Owned by Holly and David Wilson, Mr. A. P. is listed at 8-1 on the morning line among nine contenders.
Nevada Beach, last year’s Goodwood winner as a three-year-old, seeks to defend his title and enters as the favorite at 7-5. Trained by Bob Baffert, Nevada Beach has not raced since February 14, when he finished 12th following a slow start in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh.
The competition also features four out-of-state challengers vying for a Grade 1 victory and a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. brings Forged Steel and Caldera, co-second choices at 5-1. Forged Steel, a 4-year-old colt by Vekoma, won the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup over 1¼ miles in May, while Caldera, a 4-year-old by Liam’s Map, arrives off three consecutive allowance wins at Gulfstream Park and Colonial Downs.
Returning to California is Brendan Walsh’s Original Sin, a 4-year-old Curlin colt who recently finished second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1¼ miles at Del Mar on August 22, listed at 6-1 odds. The final entrant is McAfee, trained by George Weaver. This 4-year-old colt by Cloud Computing delivered a decisive 6½-length victory in an 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs on July 3 and holds a 15-1 morning line price.
The Goodwood is scheduled as the eighth race on Saturday with a post time of 4:40 p.m. PT. The lineup by post position is: Taif (8-1, Emisael Jaramillo), Vodka Vodka (15-1, Kent Desormeaux), McAfee (15-1, Hector Berrios), Original Sin (6-1, Kazushi Kimura), Midnight Mammoth (30-1, Tyler Baze), Mr. A. P. (8-1, Joel Rosario), Forged Steel (5-1, Edwin Gonzalez), Caldera (5-1, Paco Lopez), and Nevada Beach (7-5, Juan Hernandez).
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on September 25, 2026, where it appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fan Take: This upcoming showdown in the Goodwood Stakes is a pivotal moment for the sport, as it features a blend of established stars and rising contenders vying for a coveted spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Fans of horse racing should pay close attention, as performances here could shape the narrative of the season’s marquee event and highlight the emergence of new talent on the main stage.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
