Big Breeders' Cup Day for Japan

At the same time that Japanese-born Shohei Otani was leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series, another Japanese star was anointed at the 2025 Breeders' Cup in Del Mar, California. That new equine superstar goes by the name Forever Young.

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the shot heard around the thoroughbred racing world was fired when Forever Young roared down the Del Mar stretch to capture the $7,000,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic. It capped an amazing two days of Breeders' Cup races with foreign interests capturing 6 of the 14 scheduled races. Of course, none was bigger than Forever Young's victory.

Note: Forever Young is trained by Japan's Yoshito Yahagi and ridden to victory by Ryusei Sakai. Truth be told, Yahagi was torn by Japan's massive success on this given day. He was clearly reflective of his country's pride in his achievement when he told the press:

“Of course, I’m happy the Dodgers won the World Series, but on the other side, I’m sad because the Dodgers took all the news, so that’s like stealing from our achievement.”

Not Forever Young's First USA Rodeo

When Forever Young made an appearance in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, he became the first Japanese horse to be considered a serious threat to win America's premier horse race. He did not disappoint, finishing a fast-closing third behind the winner Mystik Dan, and in second place was Sierra Leone.

The Derby results were enough to inspire Yahagi to bring his steed back for the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic. In that race, Forever Young again finished a fast-closing third behind the winner Sierra Leone, with Fierceness finishing second.

After the 2024 Classic, Yahagi mentioned that a return to America for the 2025 Classic was a possibility. It wasn't clear if that would be until Forever Young captured the $20 million Saudi Cup in February of 2025. It was an incredible performance that made the horse racing community think maybe the best was yet to come for Japan's newest equine superstar.

After a sluggish third in the Dubai Cup in March, Yahagi decided to give his trainee a break with an eye on this year's classic. It would be until October until Forever Young returned to the races with a facile victory in a minor stakes in Japan. It was enough to green the now four-year-old's return to American soil for another shot at glory.

What a shot he fired. Going off as the third choice, he battled his old nemesis Sierra Leone to the wire, eking out a 1/2 length victory. It was a race for the ages, pointing out that Forever Young is one of the best Japanese horses to grace the Breeders' Cup.

Note: This was, in fact, Yahagi's third Breeders’ Cup victory. At Del Mar in 2021, Yahagi won the Distaff with March Lorraine and followed that with a win in the Filly and Mare Turf with the mre Loves Only You.