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A.P. Warrior is the hot horse, along with Bob and John, coming into the Futurity. And off his dominating win over that one in a November 4th allowance, he could well wind up favored when they break from the gate Saturday. Workouts have been great since the big win; say he’s sitting on a big race once again. He’s come around since his dull effort in the Del Mar Futurity, finishing second to Brother Derek in the Norfolk. Interesting to note that while Patrick Valenzuela jumped ship to ride Your Tent Or Mine, picking up the ultra-hot Garrett Gomez is no drawback. He’ll be low odds at post, but is impossible to leave out of your multi-horse wagers.
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A.P. Warrior is by Horse of the Year and champion A.P. Indy, a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and the leading sire in North America in 2003. He sired 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, as well as champion Tempera, Grade I winner Golden Missile; millionaire Symboli Indy; Grade I winner Aptitude and Grade II winners Suave and Lu Ravi. A 2000 Racing Hall of Fame inductee, A.P. Indy won eight of eleven starts, including the 1992 Belmont (GI) and Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) while on his way to that year's championship honors. He was the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but was scratched the morning of the race due to a hoof injury. He raced in Will Farish's Lane's End Farm colors, where he also currently stands stud. A.P. Indy also has a very prominent female family. His dam, Weekend Surprise, was a multiple graded stakes winner and produced nine winners as a broodmare, including Summer Squall, winner of the Preakness (GI), Welcome Surprise, winner of the Dogwood (GIII), and stakes placed horses Honor Grades and Weekend In Seattle. A.P. Warrior is the first foal from his dam Warrior Queen, who was a stakes winner at two in Europe, where she competed exclusively save for one start in the States, also during her first campaign. Warrior Queen is also a half-sister to Folkstone Park (Dixieland Band), who sold for $1.15 million, the highest priced for the sire that year, as a yearling in 2000.
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