By Steve Sherack
DEL MAR, Calif. – That's why they're called the World Championships.
The globe-trotting Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), third in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, reversed form with last year's top two to bring home the $7-million centerpiece to Japan before a crowd of 35,173 at sunsplashed Del Mar Saturday.
Off as the narrow second choice at 7-2, the Susumu Fujita colorbearer raced on top of a fast early pace and held last year's winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) safe by a half-length. It was another length back to favored fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in third.
The Classic was Forever Young's third appearance on American soil. He was also a painfully unlucky third, beaten just a head, behind Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and the closely related Sierra Leone in a roughly run GI Kentucky Derby in 2024.
“Fierceness and Sierra Leone will be retired, so this was the last chance against these two guys,” Fujita said. “It is my dream to beat these two horses. So, it's a dream come true.”
The Classic still packed a pretty powerful punch despite the defection of its headliner and leading Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) earlier this week.
Sierra Leone's Chad Brown-trained stablemate and 66-1 pacemaker Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief) did his job and was on an aggressive send by Florent Geroux. Forever Young was in close pursuit in second as champion Fierceness raced in an inside third through an opening quarter in :23.04.
'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Mindframe (Constitution), a two-time Grade I winner this season, rolled up three deep to make it three across at halfway. Contrary Thinking was the first to blink and Forever Young held a narrow advantage on the far turn. He was soon joined by standout 3-year-olds Journalism (Curlin) and Baeza (McKinzie) as Sierra Leone began to uncork from last of nine.
Forever Young kicked for home on top, Fierceness popped off the fence to offer a challenge and Sierra Leone came rolling on the outside. The Classic rematch was officially on.
And it was Forever Young's turn this time. He led by 1 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and knuckled down gamely down the lane for a much-deserved victory.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young covered the 1 1/4 miles over a fast track in 2:00.19. This is the third Breeders' Cup victory for Yahagi and first for Sakai.
“Last time here on prep race was 75 percent condition, and this time we create 100 percent condition,” Yahagi said. “Everything Forever Young did, my order. That means that Forever Young is an amazing horse.”
Amazing horse, indeed.
Forever Young won an epic renewal of the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 22, then was a disappointing third in the G1 Dubai World Cup Apr. 5. He had raced only once since, winning his audition for this in Japan Oct. 1.
Forever Young's loaded resume also includes wins in the G3 Saudi Derby, G2 U.A.E. Derby, Japan Dirt Classic and G1 Tokyo Daishoten.
The Classic was the final career start for Sierra Leone and Fierceness. Both will join Coolmore's stallion roster at Ashford Stud for 2026.
“Listen, him and Forever Young are closely related and they've had a wonderful rivalry from the Derby on. Today, it was Forever Young's day to find the winner's circle and hats off to them,” Brown concluded.
Pedigree Notes:
Forever Young, a ¥98,000,000 ($720,603) JRHAYF yearling, is one of five graded/group winners for Real Steel. Winner of the 2016 GII Santa Ynez S., Forever Darling is also the dam of G3 Artemis S. heroine Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}); the placed 2-year-old filly Darlinghurst (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}); and a yearling colt by Rey de Oro (Jpn), who was bought by Forever Young's owner for ¥330,000,000 ($2,241,865) at this year's JRHA Select Sale. Forever Young's second dam is the multiple stakes winner and multiple Grade-I placed Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister). She is responsible for 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades S. victress Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), the dam of Sierra Leone.
Saturday, Del Mar
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC-GI, $6,370,000, Del Mar, 11-1, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:00.19, ft.
1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Real Steel (Jpn)
1st Dam: Forever Darling (GSW, $217,545),
by Congrats
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
(¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAYF). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Racing (JPN); T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai. $3,640,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, G1SW-KSA, GSW-UAE,13-10-0-3, $19,358,590. *1/2 to Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $239,613.Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sierra Leone, 126, c, 4, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon. ($2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Brant, Peter M., Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael, Smith, Derrick, Westerberg and Smith, Brook T.; B-Debby M. Oxley (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $1,190,000.
3–Fierceness, 126, c, 4, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty. O-Smith, Derrick, Repole Stable, Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier, Mrs. John; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $630,000.
Margins: HF, 1, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 3.90, 3.40.
Also Ran: Journalism, Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian, Contrary Thinking. Scratched: Sovereignty.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
A Champion crowned on racing's biggest stage. 🌟 Forever Young takes the @Longines #BreedersCup Classic! #BC25
Congrats to the connections!
J: Ryusei Sakai
T: Yoshito Yahagi
O: Susumu Fujita
B: Northern Racingフォーエバーヤング pic.twitter.com/n9mRMCU3tJ
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 1, 2025
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