Following his Champagne win last year, Coolmore Stud entered into an agreement valued in excess of $16 million under which the Irish breeding nursery will control the breeding career of A P Valentine. The agreement was made between Coolmore and Celtic Pride Stable, the racing entity managed by Boston Celtics basketball coach Rick Pitino now called Ol Memorial Stable. The agreement called for Celtic Pride (Ol Memorial) to race the son of A. P. Indy-Twenty Eight Carat through 2001, at which time Coolmore would assume control.
Following his sixth-place finish in the seven-horse field in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), Ol Memorial Stable's A P Valentine has been retired.Trainer Nick Zito said the plan was for the Gold Cup to be the last career start for A P Valentine if he did not win. From 13 starts, A P Valentine has three wins, two seconds, and two thirds, with earnings of $864,170. The 3-year-old colt won the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) as a 2-year-old after breaking his maiden in his second start. This year, the colt's only victory was in an optional claiming event at Hialeah. He also finished second in two classics -- the Belmont and Preakness -- but was seventh in the Kentucky Derby.