Japan: Forever Young will race once more before home fans, trainer says
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Forever Young, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner who finished fifth in this year’s race, is being pointed to the Group 1 Tokyo Daishoten on Dec. 29 at Oi Racecourse in Japan, his connections announced Sunday.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi told Japan media it is owner Susumu Fujita’s desire to race Forever Young one more time in front of the fans in Japan. Forever Young has not raced in Japan since he won the Nappon TV Hai Stakes in October 2025, his prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic that he won at Del Mar.
Forever Young won the 2024 Tokyo Daishoten after finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
Yahagi said that Forever Young remains in quarantine in Japan and added that “if I have even the slightest concern,” he would retire Forever Young without running in that race.
Forever Young’s fifth-place finish in the 2026 BC Classic at Keeneland was the worst finish of his 17-race career. Forever Young uncharacteristically became agitated in the paddock before the race. It was unclear what, if any, impact that behavior had on his performance.
In the Classic, Forever Young seemed settled while he chased Knightsbridge from second. Forever Young remained in contention to the top of the lane, but ran just evenly in the stretch as he was defeated three lengths by Sovereignty.
Forever Young, a 5-year-old son of Reel Steel who was North America’s champion older dirt male horse in 2025, has won 12 of 17 career starts. He has won two runnings of the $20 million Saudi Cup, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2026 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
Forever Young’s career earnings of $32,523,590 are second-most all-time behind Romantic Warrior’s $36,966,335.
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