Forever Young scheduled to prep in Japan for Breeders’ Cup Classic

Aug 05, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Forever Young shown training for the 2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

Forever Young shown training for the 2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Japan’s Forever Young, who was narrowly denied by two noses in the Kentucky Derby (G1), is expected to return stateside for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Note that his trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, is 2-for-2 in the Breeders’ Cup. Both of his winners came during the 2021 championships, also at Del Mar. After sending out Loves Only You to score an historic first Breeders’ Cup victory for Japan in the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Yahagi made it a double when Marche Lorraine sprang a nearly 50-1 upset in the Distaff (G1) on dirt.

Forever Young will have one prep race ahead of the Breeders’ Cup. Yahagi has earmarked the Oct. 2 Japan Dirt Classic at Oi as his tuneup. The affair, at about 1 1/4 miles, is no easy comeback spot. Also targeting the Japan Dirt Classic is Ramjet, who has emerged as a budding star in Forever Young’s absence.

Since his near miss at Churchill Downs, Forever Young has been enjoying a well-deserved vacation back home at Northern Farm. The Susumu Fujita color-bearer endured a demanding first half of the season abroad.

Starting his sophomore campaign in the Middle East, Forever Young rallied furiously to get up in the Feb. 24 Saudi Derby (G3). The runner-up that day, Book‘em Danno, has won both of his ensuing U.S. starts, including the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga.

Forever Young extended his tour to Dubai, where he dominated the UAE Derby (G2) to advance his record to a perfect 5-for-5. His impressive victory secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

A great-grandson of 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) champion Sunday Silence, Forever Young came agonizingly close to making history for Japan in the Run for the Roses. He was in the thick of contention with Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, only to place third in the three-way photo that ranks as the closest finish in Derby history.

Forever Young has not raced in Japan since last December, when he crowned an undefeated juvenile season with a seven-length conquest of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. That race is part of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, but his connections preferred to test him on the international stage.

In his absence, two other sophomores – Ramjet and T O Password – stepped up to win the remaining scoring races on the Japan Road.

Ramjet rolled to an impressive victory in the Feb. 18 Hyacinth S. at Tokyo, becoming the new Japan Road leader. When Ramjet didn’t pursue any additional points, T O Password surpassed him on the leaderboard by taking the final Japan Road event, the March 23 Fukuryu S. at Nakayama.

T O Password accepted his invitation to the Kentucky Derby and finished a creditable fifth at Churchill. Unfortunately, injury has sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Although Ramjet missed his chance to try the Derby, he’s continued his winning streak at home. A homebred for the Maeda family, who also campaigned 2016 Triple Crown competitor Lani, Ramjet added the April 27 Unicorn (G3) at Kyoto and dominated the June 5 Tokyo Derby by six lengths.

The Tokyo Derby is held over the same track and trip as the Japan Dirt Classic, so Ramjet will try to leverage his experience at Oi against Forever Young.

Aside from the three-year-old Forever Young, the Japanese contingent for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is likely to include veterans Derma Sotogake and Ushba Tesoro. Derma Sotogake, sixth in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, was a terrific second in last November’s Classic. Ushba Tesoro, a closing fifth last year at Santa Anita, could find Del Mar more congenial to his running style.

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