Forever Young Chases Historic Second Classic Win

It has been 25 years since Tiznow won it for America in an intense stretch duel at Belmont Park that ended with a nose victory over Sakhee in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The victory was Tiznow's second in the Classic, the first horse to win it twice. And, as it turned out, no one else has matched the feat since. Several have tried, including Hall of Famers Curlin, Zenyatta, and Arrogate. Still, they have all come up just short. For a moment in the stretch of the 2025 Classic, it looked like the exclusive club could have its second member as Sierra Leone, the 2024 winner, came thundering with his patented late run in the Del Mar stretch. Alas, the wire came up just a moment too soon, a half-length separating him from history. That half-length belonged to Forever Young (JPN). Now, one year after being the spoiler of history, Forever Young aims to be its maker Oct. 31 as he goes for his second Classic win at Keeneland. As the first Japanese winner of the Classic, Susumu Fujita's Forever Young is no stranger to making Breeders' Cup history. Not to mention, the son of Real Steel (JPN) has already proven he can handle fierce opposition by conquering Romantic Warrior (IRE) in Saudi Arabia and the likes of Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Journalism in the United States. However, trainer Yoshito Yahagi believes attempting to win the Classic a second time will be more difficult than trying to win it the first. "I think the quality of the rival is the same as last year, but our position this year is quite different from last year," Yahagi said in comments translated by Breeders' Cup communications representative Mariko Seki. "Last year, we had to take on the challenge to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. But this year, we are in the position that everybody is targeting us, so it's not quite easy to defend the title." Even some of the all-time greats were unsuccessful in their second attempt, such as Cigar. The famed winner of 16-straight races included the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic among his tally, but when he returned at Woodbine in 1996, he managed only to be third. Cigar was trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who appears to be Yahagi's chief competition as he is set to saddle the Classic's expected second and third choices for Godolphin: Sovereignty and Knightsbridge. Having once been in the shoes of Yahagi, Mott knows the difficult challenge the 5-year-old Forever Young must overcome. "It's very difficult to keep good horses going for over two seasons," Mott said of why winning the Classic twice is so hard. "You get a horse that you run him at 2, he has a great year at 3, and a great year at 4; it's hard to expect those horses to have a great year at 5. There are exceptions, believe me, there are horses that continued on and carried their form. … It's hard to keep them at a peak for more than two seasons. That's what I've noticed." For Forever Young specifically, it would appear to be a miracle that he is in good enough form to be favored for a second Classic win given the racing history he has had. Saturday's Classic will mark the first time since his 2-year-old season in 2023 that he has made consecutive starts in the same country—making yearly expeditions to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Derby (G3) in 2024 and the 2025-26 Saudi Cup (G1), the United Arab Emirates for the 2024 UAE Derby (G2) and 2025-26 Dubai World Cup (G1), and the U.S. to the Breeders' Cup and a Kentucky Derby (G1) appearance in 2024. Most would assume that kind of travel would be significantly taxing on a horse but, for this specific equine, it seems to fuel him. "He doesn't have any travel issues at all. He rather enjoys taking the flight," Yahagi said. "When he gets on the plane, he switches on his racing mode, 'Oh, it's time to race.' He recognizes at that point." Forever Young is approaching the Classic differently this time around, having shipped to America early to return from his summer break in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) Sept. 18 at Belmont Park. In 2024, when he was third in the Classic, and his winning year of 2025, he prepped at home in Japan. Yahagi expressed disappointment with his run in the Gold Cup despite the fact that Forever Young won by 3 1/4 lengths, saying it was not a performance that would win the Classic. However, it was a good starting point and a race he could build upon for his second start off the layoff. "I definitely believe the horse's condition is improving," Yahagi said. "I heard from the stable staff that the horse's condition is improving, and he is still improving now." That improvement will be necessary as he faces a tough cast of rivals that includes five American grade 1 winners and his fellow Japanese-bred T O Password (JPN). The 3-year-olds Golden Tempo, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1); Napoleon Solo, winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1); and The Puma, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), will look to be the next Forever Young by spoiling a bid at Classic history while being in position to make it themselves next year. But the biggest task to overcome will be defeating Sovereignty. The stage is set for an epic battle between the reigning American and Japanese Horses of the Year—a historic first. That meeting was supposed to take place last year at Del Mar, but a fever forced Sovereignty to scratch as the favorite. They again missed their opportunity to square off in the Gold Cup when Sovereignty was dealing with a foot abscess. "I have been looking forward to competing against him," Yahagi said of Sovereignty. "Beating him means becoming the real champion of America."