2nd-Santa Anita, $61,000, Msw, 10-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.01, ft, nose.
MR. A. P. (r, 2, American Pharoah–Trenchtown Cat {MSW & GSP, $236,945}, by Discreet Cat) was audaciously claimed for $150,000 out of a debut runner-up effort at Del Mar July 31 and ran a winning race when beaten three-parts of a length into second by $1.15-million Keeneland September grad Kristofferson (Nyquist) at the seaside Aug. 31, earning a strong 88 Beyer for the effort.
Beaten for speed in this first two-turn endeavor, the 3-5 favorite managed to tuck in and save ground early as longshot Work (American Pharoah) and Cherokee Nation, a KEESEP-sourced $1.15-million son of Not This Time, matched motors up front. Antonio Fresu asked Mr. A. P. for a burst of speed three furlongs from home, enabling him to secure a three-wide run inside of a rival and the battle was joined in earnest at the head of the lane.
Mr. A. P. looked to have the necessary momentum to go on to a comfortable win, but Cherokee Nation would not lie down inside and with Fresu doing his best to keep his mount off of his rival, shifting to his right in the saddle in the final stages, Mr. A. P. got the bob in, if only just.
The winner's dam is also represented by a Constitution colt that fetched $325,000 from Centennial Farm at KEESEP last month and a weanling filly by Not This Time. Trenchtown Cat was covered by McKinzie this past season. Sales history: $47,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $63,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Holly & David Wilson; B-Pollock Farms (KY); T-Vladimir Cerin.
It was an exciting photo finish in race 2 at Santa Anita as #5 MR. A. P. ($3.20) just noses out #2 Cherokee Nation. The son of American Pharoah was ridden by @Antonio1Fresu and is trained by Vladimir Cerin.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/fjCd636qS8
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 13, 2025
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