Horse Profile: Forever Young

Breeders' Cup Classic Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report) 

Trained by international maestro Yoshito Yahagi, who single-handedly furnished both of Japan’s Breeders’ Cup winners at Del Mar in 2021, Forever Young has the advantage of being proven in U.S. conditions. 

His near-miss third, in an epic three-way Kentucky Derby (G1) photo, came despite being leaned on and brushed by the lugging-in runner-up, Sierra Leone (ironically, his maternal “cousin”). It’s at least as significant that Forever Young came so close to an historic victory for Japan after a physically demanding spring spent abroad. Might he find even more in his second start of a fall campaign, following his restorative summer holiday?

Forever Young boasts Classic-winning Hall of Famers on both sides of his pedigree. As a son of Real Steel, and grandson of Deep Impact, he represents the sire line of 1989 Derby and Classic champion Sunday Silence. Forever Young’s dam, Grade 2 vixen Forever Darling, is by Congrats, a son of 1992 Belmont (G1) and Classic champion A.P. Indy. 

A perfect 5-for-5 going into the Derby, Forever Young received the highest rating ever assigned to a Japanese two-year-old on the dirt. His three juvenile wins came in differing circumstances – swooping from just off the pace in his Kyoto premiere, coming from the clouds in the JBC Nisai Yushun at Mombetsu (where he was unhappy in the kickback), and tracking the leader in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki before running away by seven lengths. 

Although Forever Young scored points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby in his juvenile finale, plans called for him to earn his way to Louisville via Dubai. The Saudi Derby (G3) served as his initial tune-up, and he did well to snatch victory from what looked like sure defeat for most of the way. The one-turn metric mile figured to be his minimum trip anyway, and he didn’t help himself by getting off a beat slow. But Forever Young unleashed a sustained rally to catch one-turn specialist Book’em Danno – the future Woody Stephens (G1) winner – by a head in stakes-record time. Another six lengths back in third was Bentornato, who went on to take the Gallant Bob (G2) and stamp himself a Sprint contender.

Forever Young had a right to improve with the added ground in the about 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night. Adding a visor would also help him endure the kickback better. As it turned out, he drew the far outside post that forced him to circumnavigate the field at Meydan. Yet his class prevailed. Rousted along to secure decent early position, he stayed on strongly down the lane and booked his spot at Churchill Downs by two emphatic lengths.

In the Derby, Forever Young again took time to get into stride out of the gate and found himself far back. But he uncorked a big move on the far turn and entered the stretch full of momentum, flanked by deep-closing Sierra Leone. Although neither could overtake Mystik Dan, who was aided by a charmed run up the rail, they both ran mighty races in defeat. Forever Young fans like myself could feel aggrieved by the behavior of Sierra Leone. On the other hand, if Sierra Leone hadn’t been literally throwing his weight around instead of channeling his energy forward, he might have won outright. 

Forever Young was understandably tired after three taxing efforts on a long tour of duty away from home. Yahagi already had his master plan in mind: a summer vacation on the farm before getting back to work for the Oct. 2 Japan Dirt Classic, his one prep for the Breeders’ Cup.

The Japan Dirt Classic was no soft spot. Forever Young was resuming at about 1 1/4 miles, against a couple of talented rivals, with an eye on his main aim at Del Mar. His preparation hadn’t been perfect either, since he’d had fever (that Yahagi reportedly believed was due to the broiling summer heat). 

None of those potential quibbles mattered as Forever Young was simply too good for them at Oi. The start was the only problematic moment, as he stumbled slightly out of his rail post. But he readily took up a stalking position with regular rider Ryusei Sakai, who got him off the fence as soon as possible. The voyage was straightforward from that point on, and Forever Young asserted by 1 1/4 lengths.

Since Yahagi had declared that Forever Young was 80% fit for his comeback, he’s entitled to move forward in the Classic. The question is whether he’ll run back to the level of his Kentucky Derby effort, which probably isn’t enough to win this prize, or if he’ll reach a new career top. The one certainty is that he’ll need to maximize his chances by breaking better, or at least recovering fast enough to put himself into striking range.