“Celebrate Japan.”
Those were the words from Breeders’ Cup announcer Larry Collmus as Japanese-bred, owned, trained and ridden FOREVER YOUNG (JPN)(Real Steel (Jpn) held on to win the 42nd BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC (G1) at Del Mar Racetrack on November 1. The popular bay four-year-old colt, never worse than third in his 13 races, and jockey Ryusei Sakai, won the $7 million Classic by half a length over his familiar rivals, Sierra Leone and Fierceness, who were the one-two finishers in last year’s Classic also at Del Mar.
The Classic was the big event of the nine-race Breeders’ Cup World Championships Saturday and the five-race Future Stars Friday segment. The withdrawal earlier in the week of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty took a little bit of air out of the Classic hype, but the finish was vintage Classic.
Sierra Leone, a winner once in four races since his Classic win last year, had his trusty rabbit, Contrary Thinking, in the race as trainer Chad Brown wanted to ensure a strong pace for the Gun Runner colt. But pre-race, Brown spoke cautiously of Sierra Leone’s challenge, noting how speed-favouring the main track had been playing on Saturday.
Forever Young, owned by Susumu Fujita and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was once again a very popular horse with media during Cup week, often being seen posing in the walking ring, doing long walks around the track and then doing a few bucks here and there during his gallops. Bred by Northern Farm, Forever Young had run just one other race in North America other than his Classic run last year – he was third by a head in the Kentucky Derby (G1) to Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone. He won the Group 1 Saudi Cup in February and was third to Hit Show in the Dubai World Cup in April before going on hiatus. He returned to racing on Oct. 1, winning the Nippon TV Hai at “75 percent”, according to Yahagi.
In this year’s Classic, Forever Young was close to the fast pace set by Contrary Thinking and Fierceness, through opening fractions of :23.04, :45.97 and 1:10.48. Approaching the far turn, Sakai gave Forever Young his cue and he swept to the front with Mindframe and Journalism also on the move and Fierceness saving ground on the inside. Forever Young maintained a safe margin over Fierceness and then was able to hold the late charge from Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone finished a length in front of Fierceness, who was 2 ¼ lengths in front of Journalism with Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking following in order.
The time was 2:00.78.
“We have the number one in America,” exclaimed Yahagi to NBC.
Canadian racing fans may have noticed a familiar face in the winner’s circle. Former Woodbine jockey HIROSHI (HAPPY) ANDO is a racing manager for owner Fujita. Ando won 111 races in a brief, five-year career in Ontario before he was injured. Among his stakes wins was the Puss n Boots on Sandspit.
An English interview is below:
A fascinating aspect to the Forever Young and Sierra Leone rivalry is that the two colts are first cousins. They have the same granddam, Darling My Darling, a daughter of Canadian Horse of the Year DEPUTY MINISTER and winner of the Raven Run and Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland in 2000 for Debby Oxley. Darling My Darling produced Forever Darling, the dam of Forever Young and Heavenly Love, the dam of Sierra Leone.
Forever Young (5), ridden by jockey Ryusei Sakai, wins the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
Forever Young was a $720,603 Japan yearling purchase. His dam produced a yearling colt by Rey de Oro (Jpn) who was bought by Forever Young’s owner for $2,241,865 at this year’s JRHA Select Sale.
Wagering on the Breeders’ Cup races was up slightly this year. The afternoon featured a variety of exciting winners including NOTABLE SPEECH (GB), who used the Woodbine Mile (G1) as a stepping-stone to his Breeders’ Cup Mile win for Godolphin; and BENTORNATO, who bettered his near miss in last year’s Sprint with a win this year for trainer Jose D’Angelo, who also saddled the three-year-old filly SHESOSPICY to nab the Turf Sprint.
The other eight races on Saturday are summarized on a separate post.
BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year / Track / Attendance / Wagering
2025 – Del Mar 65,232 / $180,036,799
2024 – Del Mar 67,418 / $179,218,631
2023 – Santa Anita 109,624 / $176,281,989
2022 – Keeneland 85,824 / $189,060,373
2021 – Del Mar 47,089 / $182,908,409
More News
