Forever Young eyes Jockey Club Gold Cup, Breeders’ Cup Classic title defense

Jun 29, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Forever Young wins the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar 2025 (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Globetrotting champion Forever Young will bid to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland, trainer Yoshito Yahagi recently revealed.

Unlike the past two years, when he tuned up at home in Japan, Forever Young will ship stateside for his final prep. Plans call for him to appear at the newly redeveloped Belmont Park on Sept. 18, its grand unveiling, for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

今後のフォーエバーヤングの出走につきまして🏇

まずはフランスギャロ、レパーズタウン競馬場をはじめとする世界各地の主催者様より、素晴らしいオファーをいただいたことに心より感謝申し上げます。… pic.twitter.com/4z9K9SGfNI

— 矢作芳人厩舎【公式】 (@yahagistable) June 21, 2026

According to Japanese media reports, Forever Young could be accompanied by stablemate Shin Emperor. Yahagi mentioned the Sept. 26 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) as a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

Their compatriot Finger, winner of the first two jewels of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown, is also planning a U.S. venture. Finger is pointing to the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar in hopes of advancing to the Breeders’ Cup for trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka.

Forever Young has been on holiday since his Middle Eastern campaign earlier this year. On Feb. 14, he became the first horse to repeat in the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). But for the second straight year, he could not pull off the double in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Forever Young, who was third in the 2025 World Cup, fared a bit better when runner-up in the March 28 renewal at Meydan.

Forever Young’s form has been advertised back in the U.S. this summer. Saudi Cup runner-up Nysos came back to dominate the June 6 Metropolitan H. (G1) at Saratoga. Magnitude, who rolled in the Dubai World Cup, just delivered another front-running coup to beat Baeza, Sovereignty, and White Abarrio in Saturday’s $2 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs.

While the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Forever Young already secured his free ticket by way of the Saudi Cup. Magnitude has earned his way into the Classic twice over, with both the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster serving as “Win and You’re In” events.

Nysos has two upcoming options to book his Classic spot. The Aug. 8 Whitney (G1) at Saratoga could be his next target, but the Pacific Classic at Del Mar is another “Win and You’re In” possibility.

Definitely bound for the Pacific Classic is the exciting Japanese three-year-old Finger. By Hall of Famer Gun Runner, Finger has shown high cruising speed in his victories in the April 29 Haneda Hai and the June 10 Tokyo Derby at Oi.

Meanwhile, one of Japan’s 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) runners, eighth-placer Wonder Dean, is expected to run in the Oct. 7 Japan Dirt Classic. Thus he continues to echo the campaign of Forever Young as a three-year-old.

The third jewel of the Dirt Triple Crown at Oi, the Japan Dirt Classic similarly marked the return of Forever Young from his travels in 2024. During his sophomore season, Forever Young swept the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2) before his near-miss third in the 150th Kentucky Derby.

Wonder Dean followed the same itinerary this year. A useful fourth in the Saudi Derby, he progressed to win the UAE Derby, thereby topping the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Although Wonder Dean wound up eighth in the Run for the Roses, stablemate T O Elvis scored a mighty win for Japan earlier on Derby Day in the Churchill Downs (G1). The Daisuke Takayanagi trainee is reportedly pursuing the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), with a possible Belmont Park prep like Forever Young.

Another stablemate with Churchill experience, T O Password, has also been in the news. The winner of the 2024 Japan Road, and a fine fifth in the same Kentucky Derby with Forever Young, T O Password rounded back into top form May 30 at Tokyo.

T O Password shines in the main race today at Tokyo. He finished 5th in the 2024 @KentuckyDerby. Maybe he will join T O Elvis at the @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/W1gNufJOlQ

— Kate Hunter • ケイト ハンター (@KeibaKate) May 30, 2026

Forever Young’s victory in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar propelled him into the history books. The first dirt specialist to be voted Japan’s Horse of the Year, he was also honored with an Eclipse Award as champion older dirt male.

If Forever Young can fend off all challengers in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, he would join Hall of Famer Tiznow as the only two-time winner of the Classic. Moreover, the winner’s portion of the $7 million purse would push Forever Young a little nearer to Romantic Warrior’s record bankroll. Romantic Warrior, who recently concluded a sweep of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown for older horses, ranks as the world’s all-time richest racehorse with earnings exceeding $36 million.