Forever Young Triumphs in $7M Breeders’ Cup Classic in Japan
In a thrilling display, Forever Young clinched victory in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, held at Del Mar, California. This marked a significant win for Japan, as Forever Young triumphed over defending champion Sierra Leone by a half-length. The race took place on Saturday, and Forever Young was expertly ridden by jockey Ryusei Sakai.
Race Highlights
Forever Young completed the 1 1/4 miles in a time of 2:00.19, with winning odds set at 7-2. This victory comes after a third-place finish in last year’s Classic, where he competed against both Sierra Leone and Fierceness. Notably, the race was impacted by the scratching of Sovereignty, who had won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont before withdrawing due to illness.
Trainer and Jockey Achievements
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi celebrated his third career Cup victory, while Sakai marked his first win in this prestigious race. Yahagi expressed his admiration for Forever Young, stating, “Forever Young is an amazing horse,” through a translator.
Final Standings
- 1st: Forever Young
- 2nd: Sierra Leone
- 3rd: Fierceness
- 4th: Journalism
- 5th: Mindframe
- Other notable finishers: Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian, and Contrary Thinking.
With this victory, Forever Young increased his career earnings to an impressive $19,358,590, achieving 10 wins in just 13 starts.
Other Races at the Breeders’ Cup
Saturday featured several other thrilling races, showcasing top competitors and trainers:
- Turf: Ethical Diamond (Ireland-bred) won by 1 1/4 lengths and paid $57.40.
- Sprint: Bentornato secured victory by two lengths, marking Irad Ortiz Jr.’s second Cup win of the day.
- Distaff: Scylla triumphed by five lengths under Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
- Mile: Notable Speech (Britain-bred) won by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:33.66.
- Filly & Mare Turf: Gezora won, paying $20.20 at 9-1 odds.
- Filly & Mare Sprint: Splendora defeated her stablemate Hope Road by four lengths.
- Dirt Mile: Nysos edged past stablemate Citizen Bull by a head.
- Turf Sprint: Shisospicy prevailed by two lengths with Ortiz aboard.
Trainer Bob Baffert achieved his 20th career Cup victory, while his 21st win in the Dirt Mile tied him with Aidan O’Brien for the all-time lead. The Breeders’ Cup continues to showcase extraordinary talent and competition in the world of horse racing.
