2026 News
Forever Young captures Belmont’s Gold Cup, secures ticket to Breeders’ Cup
With an indisputable show of force, Forever Young romped to a win of the $1-million, 2,000-meter Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup over dirt at New York’s Belmont Park on Friday, Sept. 18. Returning to the track for the first time since his second in the Dubai World Cup at the end of March, Forever Young easily topped the three other Gold Cup participants whose connections were bold enough to take him on. Japan’s star proved not only the highlight of the day, but proof as well that world-class racing was to be had at the newly renovated venue, celebrating its first day up and running after a 3-year hiatus. Crossing the line at the head of the field, that only that day had been reduced to a lonely four, the 5-year-old son of Real Steel secured his 12th career win, his fifth top-level victory and, most importantly, a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be held at Lexington’s Keeneland Racecourse on Oct. 31. Forever Young, running under the lucky No. 7, broke from the No. 4 gate and came away in smooth order. Traveling under regular partner Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young held steady patiently amid a slow pace in second position a handful of lengths behind leader Phileas Fogg, then closed to within a length of the top. The other two runners, the Grade 1 winner Baeza who had been slow away, and Stars and Stripes, remained a good 10 lengths behind. Just before the quarter pole, Sakai asked for more and Forever Young promptly answered, moving into the lead on the outside and rounding wide on the turn home. From there, without a change of leads, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion opened up and sailed triumphantly over the finish line 3 1/4 lengths ahead of runnerup Stars and Stripes, who had caught a flagging Phileas Fogg and advanced up the rail. Stars and Stripes, however, was no match for Forever Young, who continued on with apparent ease despite not having changed leads and crossed the line in first in a time of 2 minutes 1.23 seconds. He improved his career record to 12-1-3 from 16 outings and, with the victory, added the first-place prize of $555,000 (about 87 million yen to earnings that now top 5 billion yen. Unlike last year, where the Susumu Fujita-owned bay prepped back home in Japan a month before the Breeders’ Cup, this year trainer Yoshito Yahagi (after a visit to Belmont in August) flew Forever Young to the States more than 7 weeks ahead of the big event. Forever Young cleared quarantine on Sept. 10 and make his first appearance at Belmont on Sept. 15. “Above all, I am very happy to have seen him win on this historic day, the reopening of the venue,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said with his usual modesty and a nod to his American hosts. Though Yahagi had said pre-race that Forever Young was going to the gate at “90 percent,” post-race, he changed his assessment. “Considering that he was returning from a spell, he wasn’t at his best,” Yahagi admitted. “I think fitness-wise, he was closer to 80 percent, and I’d like to see his lungs and other improvement. And I do aim to see him improve before the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” Rider Sakai noted, “He had a good response at the top of the stretch because of the slow pace. He’s fine with a slow pace, but I would like to have a quicker pace for the Breeders’ Cup.” Though he easily topped the Gold Cup field, Forever Young’s performance did bring criticism from some who called it “workmanlike” and overall lacking in flare. Some voiced concern at his failure to change leads, others saw it as more of a sign of boredom, or that, having gone so far wide, the horse had felt a bit lost. In any case, back racing after more than 5 months off, Forever Young accomplished what was asked of him called for -- victory. Though none of his wins at home have ranked among Japan’s biggest tests of strength, Forever Young has been a bright star abroad, securing top competitions on two other continents and coming frustratingly close on a third. He is a two-time winner of the Grade 1 Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia and, last year, clinched the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the U.S. He finished second in this year’s Dubai World Cup, missing the win by a length. His 2024 third place in America’s iconic Kentucky Derby stands as Japan’s best score from 12 horses fielded over the last 31 years and he was recognized as Japan’s Horse of the Year Award for 2025. Please refer to the following website for further details.
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