Trained by Nick Zito and owned by Celtic Pride Stable, a partnership led by Rick Pitino, A P Valentine began his racing career at Saratoga with a third-place finish in a maiden special weight.
[4] In his next start, A P Valentine managed not only to win but to break the track record for 1.1875 miles (1.9111 km) at Hialeah, romping by 3-3/4 lengths in an optional claimer.
A P Valentine faced a premium field of stakes winners that included Kentucky Derby Winner Monarchos, eventual Horse-of-the-Year Point Given, Derby runner-up Invisible Ink, multi-millionaire Congaree, Blue Grass Stakes runner-up Dollar Bill and local favorite Richly Blended.
[9] In the summer of 2001, he ran in the Jim Dandy Stakes, finishing fourth after losing a battle with Congaree for the show position.
[14] However, after working with a fertility specialist, he was put back into stud duty and sent to Cedar Creek Farm in Brenham, Texas.
[15] Finally, in July 2006, Higgie, a two-year-old A P Valentine filly out of a mare named Aces, won a five-furlong maiden claimer at Monmouth Park.
[16] A P Valentine stood at Cedar Creek with a stud fee of $5,000[17] until 2018, when he was moved to Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Kentucky.