Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Forever Young returns

This is the 12th installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Led by Sovereignty, the American contingent for the Breeders’ Cup Classic looks especially strong in 2025. Both the 3-year-olds and the older horses will be represented by a deep and talented group quite capable of winning our richest race. But a homegrown winner is not guaranteed. 

Third in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic last year, Forever Young and his connections are in search of an even better result for the now-imposing 4-year-old.

After a lengthy layoff, the winner of 8-of-11 lifetime will look to tighten the screws in anticipation of Del Mar with a prep run in Wednesday’s Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse in Japan. 

Although he has yet to win a big one in the U.S., the globetrotting star has proven himself to be one of the best dirt horses on the planet and will be a real threat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic if he returns to top form as expected this fall. 

Unbeaten in three starts as a 2-year-old in his native Japan, the son of Real Steel ventured to the Middle East to begin his sophomore season by running down Book’em Danno in the Grade 3 Saudi Derby. He followed that in Dubai with an impressive score in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan. 

Still undefeated when lining up for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Forever Young ran his eyeballs out during a troubled stretch run to miss winning our most prestigious race by a pair of noses to Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone.

Freshened after that memorable effort, Forever Young returned one month before last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic with an easy score in the Japan Dirt Classic. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi believed that was enough to have him ready for the big race at Del Mar, and despite a less-than-optimal trip, he finished strongly to come in third of 14, beaten less than three lengths by Sierra Leone.

Forever Young finished his 3-year-old campaign in Japan by winning the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi Racecourse. He has raced only twice this season, with both starts coming early this year in the Middle East. 

In the world’s richest race, Forever Young won the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) with a spectacular and determined finish to prevail over the classy veteran Romantic Warrior. The neck victory over the celebrated champion from Hong Kong remains one of the best races run anywhere in 2025.

Perhaps having emptied the tank in that one, Forever Young ran a good race next in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), but his third-place finish was far from his best. Much like last year, Yahagi decided to give his star plenty of time before getting ready for another run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Still unbeaten in Japan, Forever Young will be expected to handle his competition Wednesday in the about 1 1/8-mile Nippon TV Hai even though it is a needed prep race for much bigger things to come. His regular pilot Ryusei Sakai once again will be aboard as they start from post 7 in a 10-horse field. 

Last weekend in the U.S., three American runners posted solid wins Saturday around the nation. 

At Aqueduct, the multiple Grade 1 winner Locked might have earned himself a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a late burst to win the Woodward Stakes (G2). Scratches limited the field to three, but the Todd Pletcher trainee needed to run well to catch the speedy Phileas Fogg. 

In California, it was the lightly raced Nevada Beach who stepped up to upset the heavily favored Full Serrano in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. Now a Grade 1 winner over older horses after only four career starts, the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be another step up in class for the son of Omaha Beach, but he appears to have a big upside for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Finally, it was the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan who burst through a small seam early in the stretch to score a popular victory over Disarm and Banishing in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs. It was arguably his best race since winning the roses last year, but it will almost certainly lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile rather than the Classic for the Kenny McPeek-trained son of Goldencents.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week right here.

New to the list: Goal Oriented, Nevada Beach

Dropped from the list: First Mission, Full Serrano, Hit Show, Rattle N Roll