Mr. A. P. targets Del Mar return, turf debut in Oceanside Handicap

Mr. A. P. is headed toward a Del Mar return that carries more weight than a simple comeback. Vladimir Cerin is targeting the Oceanside Handicap on opening day, July 17, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds that will double as the colt’s first start on grass and a test of whether his juvenile class can carry into a new phase of development.

The Oceanside is the 81st running and carries $150,000 guaranteed. It anchors the first day of Del Mar’s summer meet, which opens July 17 and runs through Labor Day with 37 stakes races on the calendar, giving Mr. A. P. a high-profile stage if Cerin sends him there rather than to an allowance race he had also considered.

Mr. A. P. enters the next chapter with a record that still reads like a horse with real upside. He finished second in the 42nd running of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, coming home a length behind Ted Noffey in the 1 1/16-mile race run in 1:42.25 on Oct. 31, 2025. Brant was third in that race, and Mr. A. P.’s effort strengthened the case that he belongs among the better 3-year-olds in the West.

The colt has been first or second in all four starts, a level of consistency that is hard to dismiss in a division where form can shift quickly from month to month. He was claimed for $150,000 out of his debut at Del Mar, a price Breeders’ Cup materials described as unusually high for a debut maiden, and then went on to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, building a Southern California resume that now points back to Del Mar for a more demanding assignment.

Pedigree adds another layer to the story. Mr. A. P. is by American Pharoah out of Trenchtown Cat, a mare by Discreet Cat. He was bred in Kentucky by Pollock Farms and is owned by David and Holly Wilson, facts that help frame him as more than just a promising runner: he is a well-bred colt trying to turn an encouraging juvenile campaign into a sustained 3-year-old presence.

That is what makes the Oceanside such a useful crossroads. A strong showing on turf would expand his profile immediately; a flat effort would leave Cerin with more questions about the best route through the summer. At Del Mar, opening day will tell whether Mr. A. P. is ready for that next step.