Forever Young rolls in Japan Dirt Classic on way to Breeders’ Cup

Oct 03, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi believed that Forever Young was just about 80% fit for his comeback in Wednesday’s Japan Dirt Classic at Oi. As it turned out, that was more than enough for him to flaunt his class in his tune-up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

A near-miss third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) last time out, Forever Young was sent off as the odds-on favorite against 14 rivals. His fans might have held their breath when he didn’t break cleanly from his rail post. But Forever Young recovered quickly to secure a close stalking spot.

Regular rider Ryusei Sakai took the first opportunity to steer him off the fence, thereby preventing him from getting trapped in a pocket. From that point forward, Forever Young had clear aim on frontrunning Kashima Espada.

Sunrise Zipangu tracked the pace in company with Forever Young. Ramjet, the second choice, made a bold move wider out on the backstretch to try to contend, but his effort stalled on the far turn.

Forever Young was just beginning to reach top gear at the top of the stretch. Tackling Kashima Espada and forging clear, he had only one possible danger in pursuit. Mikki Fight was rallying into the picture.

Would Forever Young have enough left, after his summer vacation, to stay on strongly to the end of the about 1 1/4-mile test? The answer was a resounding affirmative as he held sway by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 2:04.10.

Mikki Fight drew five lengths clear of a one-paced Sunrise Zipangu. Ramjet churned on for fourth, and Shimme Daisy overtook the tiring Kashima Espada for fifth.

Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young advanced his record to 6-for-7, his lone reverse coming by two noses at Churchill Downs. During his perfect juvenile campaign in Japan, he captured the JBC Nisai Yushun and the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. The latter serves as a scoring race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, but Yahagi brought him straight onto the world stage instead of pursuing points at home.

Forever Young made his first start abroad in the Saudi Derby (G3), where he wasn’t really suited to a one-turn metric mile but got up in the nick of time. He was a different proposition in the about 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby (G2), rolling to a decisive victory on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan to book his ticket to Louisville.

Given his pattern of improving from his preps to his main objectives, Forever Young promises to be a prime threat in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.