Breeders’ Cup: Japan’s Forever Young beats his rivals in the Classic

DEL MAR — The horse from far away had come so close before, a Japanese star inches and then yards from achieving American royalty.

Saturday, finally, Forever Young got there.

After finishing an excruciatingly hard-fought third in the Kentucky Derby and third again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year, the 4-year-old colt bred and trained in Hokkaido broke through and won with jockey Ryusei Sakai in the $7 million Classic at Del Mar on Saturday, defeating horses who had frustrated his handlers’ ambitions in the past.

The biggest victory ever by a horse from Japan on U.S. soil set off a loud celebration by Forever Young’s connections, supporters and others in the crowd of 35,173 who enjoyed a $9 payoff per $2 bet to win.

“Forever Young is an amazing horse,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi, thrilled to have shown that to an American crowd, said through a translator.

“It is my dream to beat these two horses, so it’s a dream come true,” owner Susumu Fujita said, a digital advertising magnate in Tokyo.

The two horses Fujita was talking about couldn’t quite catch Forever Young.

Second, beaten a half-length, was a fast-closing Sierra Leone, whose bump may have cost Forever Young the Derby and who won the Classic at Del Mar a year ago.

Third, another length back after a less-than-ideal trip from the inside post position was Fierceness, the Pacific Classic winner at Del Mar this summer, who was second in the 2024 Classic.

Remarkably, the top three finishers from last year ran back this year – and took the top three places, though in a different order.

That offered some consolation to the people with Journalism, the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness-winning 3-year-old who finished fourth Saturday behind the formidable trio of 4-year-olds.

“The top three finishers from last year ran 1-2-3, and we’re the only one who gave them a run for their money,” Aron Wellman said, Journalism’s lead owner. “So, very proud of our colt.”

After Journalism came Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking. The Chad Brown-trained rabbit entered to try to ensure a fast pace, setting up a rally by Brown’s Sierra Leone.

Brown thought the way the Del Mar track played Saturday, allowing horses with early speed to keep going, helped Forever Young. But he lauded “a deserving winner.”

“Flavien (Prat, Sierra Leone’s rider) thought he had him measured and Forever Young just found a little more late,” Brown said. “Today it was Forever Young’s day to find the winner’s circle, and hats off to them.”

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Fierceness, Mindframe and Antiquarian, also thought Forever Young was helped by racing close to the early lead. But he, like Brown, took nothing away from Forever Young.

“We all know he’s a world-class horse. He’s shown that time and time again,” Pletcher said. “It’s no surprise that he won.”

Forever Young sat second behind Contrary Thinking and jockey Florent Geroux and then third behind Mindframe and Irad Ortiz Jr. down the backstretch while Fierceness and John Velazquez were penned in at the rail.

“It wasn’t a real hot pace for these horses on this track,” Pletcher said after quarter-mile fractions of 23.04, 45.97, 1:10.48 and 1:35.70 – slower than average for Breeders’ Cup Classics at Del Mar – led to a 1-1/4-mile final time of 2:00.19, faster than average.

Sakai sent Forever Young between Contrary Thinking and Mindframe on the far turn and entered the stretch with a clear lead.

“I thought I was going to get there, but the winner just didn’t stop,” Prat said.

By the last 100 yards, it was clear Forever Young wouldn’t be caught, living up to the name of his sire, Real Steel.

“Celebrate Japan! They’ve won the Breeders’ Cup Classic!” Del Mar announcer Larry Collmus shouted as Forever Young crossed the finish.

Feats of horsemanship abounded on the second of two days of Breeders’ Cup races. Bob Baffert won with Nysos in the $1 million Dirt Mile and Splendora in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint to tie Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien for the most Breeders’ Cup wins by a trainer with 21, one more than the late D. Wayne Lukas. Jose D’Angelo saddled his first Breeders’ Cup winner and then his second in the very next race when the filly Shisospicy sizzled against males in the $1 million Turf Sprint and favored Bentornato came through in the $2 million Sprint. Willie Mullins, the great Irish jumps trainer, took to the flat to win the $5 million Turf with Ethical Diamond ($57.40).

And Bill Mott sent out Scylla to win the $2 million Distaff three days after having to declare Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Sovereignty out of the Classic because of a fever.

Without Sovereignty, who probably clinched the North American Horse of the Year title while idle, this remained one of the deepest of the 42 Classics. Also, one of the most evenly matched. In the 45 minutes that odds were displayed on the tote board before the Classic, Sierra Leone, Forever Young and then Fierceness took turns being favored.

Forever Young, now with 10 wins in three countries and earnings of more than $19.3 million in 13 starts, probably will defend his $20 million Saudi Cup trophy next February. As for whether he’ll return to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Yahagi demurred.

“Keeneland (the 2025 Breeders’ Cup host in Kentucky) has really chilly weather,” Yahagi said. “So let me think about that.”

Saturday, 70-degree Del Mar was a land of the rising sun in more ways than one.