Japanese Powerhouse Forever Young Becomes World's Best Classic Distance Horse with Breeders' Cup Win
The 2025 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar proved to be the proving ground for Japanese-based powerhouse, Forever Young, as he asserted his dominance in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The stakes were high, as Forever Young faced off against two horses that had finished ahead of him in the same event last year, Sierra Leone and Fierceness, alongside six other accomplished runners.
The 4-year-old colt, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was considered a formidable opponent, given his impressive strategy and scintillating speed, showcased in his previous wins. Forever Young exploded out of the gates, tracking the early pace set by Contrary Thinking before taking control with a quarter mile to go. Undaunted by the pressure from Sierra Leone, Forever Young dug deep, displaying an unyielding determination that ultimately earned him a half-length victory.
The Breeders' Cup Classic win marked a significant milestone for Forever Young's team, as it validated their assertion that the horse was unbeatable at this distance. This impressive performance catapults Forever Young to the top of the world class distance hierarchy, cementing his status as the world's best classic distance horse.
Forever Young's trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, had long been convinced of his horse's potential and took credit for developing the champion. "I knew he was the best horse in the world," Yahagi said earlier this year. It seems that confidence is well-founded, given Forever Young's impressive résumé now stands at 10 wins from 13 starts with a career on-track earnings of $19,358,590.
With his latest victory, Forever Young has set his sights on a potential 2026 campaign, leaving no doubt that he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of Thoroughbred racing.
				
			The 2025 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar proved to be the proving ground for Japanese-based powerhouse, Forever Young, as he asserted his dominance in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The stakes were high, as Forever Young faced off against two horses that had finished ahead of him in the same event last year, Sierra Leone and Fierceness, alongside six other accomplished runners.
The 4-year-old colt, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was considered a formidable opponent, given his impressive strategy and scintillating speed, showcased in his previous wins. Forever Young exploded out of the gates, tracking the early pace set by Contrary Thinking before taking control with a quarter mile to go. Undaunted by the pressure from Sierra Leone, Forever Young dug deep, displaying an unyielding determination that ultimately earned him a half-length victory.
The Breeders' Cup Classic win marked a significant milestone for Forever Young's team, as it validated their assertion that the horse was unbeatable at this distance. This impressive performance catapults Forever Young to the top of the world class distance hierarchy, cementing his status as the world's best classic distance horse.
Forever Young's trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, had long been convinced of his horse's potential and took credit for developing the champion. "I knew he was the best horse in the world," Yahagi said earlier this year. It seems that confidence is well-founded, given Forever Young's impressive résumé now stands at 10 wins from 13 starts with a career on-track earnings of $19,358,590.
With his latest victory, Forever Young has set his sights on a potential 2026 campaign, leaving no doubt that he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of Thoroughbred racing.