With Sierra Leone (#2) on the outside, Forever Young (#11) tries to thread in between him and Catching Freedom (#4) on the rail as Mystik Dan (#3) sprints forward in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Closer Look
“I always aim to be the first Japanese. Of course, we are here to win a great race, the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and become the first Japanese to win it,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “The Classic has been our target for a year.”
Since his third-place finish in the Classic last year, Forever Young (JPN) retains his unbeaten record domestically. Internationally, he claimed the Saudi Cup title by winning an epic battle against Hong Kong’s hero Romantic Warrior (IRE) and finished disappointingly third in the Dubai World Cup.
Yahagi arrived L.A.Monday and checked his 4yo this morning.
“He was 75% fit in his prep race, Nihon TV Hai as we planned, and everything goes well so far. He is very relaxed as he has grown up and this is his second trip to Del Mar.”
“I believe his condition is better than last year. His hind quarter got much stronger, it is beautiful, as well as he’s mentally matured.”
Forever Young will race from post 5 this year as a result of the draw on Monday.
“Last year was unfortunate that he raced from stall one. We wanted to be in a prominent position, following the leader, but it ended up a crazy fast pace. My strategy was wrong,” Yahagi admitted.
“Forever Young is versatile horse and can race in any position, however, I would like to see him in a middle, on-pace.”
Yahagi’s stable jockey, a 28-year-ol Ryusei Sakai, has ridden Forever Young in all of his 12 races and will ride on him in the Classic.
“I have never thought other options, and I won’t as long as Ryusei is listening to what the trainer
Sakai has won seven Grade 1 races. This year, Sakai won the Saudi Cup with Forever Young and the Neom Turf Cup with Shin Emperor (JPN). He also claimed a success in a Shergar Cup race at Ascot.
Breeders' Cup Classic entrant Forever Young was feeling a bit spicy in his morning gallop on Sunday at Del Mar!
— Paulick Report (@paulickreport) October 27, 2025
Do you think the Japanese-trained colt can improve on last year's third-place finish? pic.twitter.com/ibZuWsftAU
“Global success is crucial for me,” Sakai said.
“I got mentally stronger particularly by ridding Forever Young and the previous Japanese Champion Dirr horse, Lemon Pop (USA). I got so much pressure when I was riding them because simply the expectation is winning, and through those experiences I am now used to it.”
So many eyes are on the Japanese dirt champion, domestically and internationally.
“Forever Young is a special horse in the world. I would like to be a jockey who deserves to be on him.” Sakai declared.
The Japan’s dirt hero placed both in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, dual pinnacle of the U.S. racing, but yet to win a Grade 1 in the United States. Japanese horses have won 60 Grade 1 races abroad and only four of them on dirt, and three of them were recorded by Yahagi. The man in the hat is set to become the first Japanese trainer to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.
