Forever Young also leads betting markets for Breeders’ Cup Classic

Japanese champion Forever Young closed as the 5-2 favorite in the second Future Wager pool for the US$ 7,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), following his triumphant return to action in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Sovereigntyclosed as the second choice, ahead of Knightsbridge, Golden Tempo, and Magnitude

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Forever Young needed just a single race to reclaim his position among the top stars in the United States, and the betting markets immediately reflected the impact of his return. The Japanese champion closed as the favorite in the second Future Wager pool for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which will hold its latest edition on October 31 at Keeneland with US$ 7,000,000 in purses.

The representative of Susumu Fujita, conditioned by Yoshito Yahagi, closed at 5-2 odds among the 17 individually offered horses and the mutuel field option grouping all other potential contenders.

A US$ 2 bet on Forever Young will return US$ 7.68 should he manage to repeat his 2025 victory.

Public support arrived immediately following his successful return in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), where he resumed competition after a lengthy layoff and delivered a commanding performance.

Forever Young knows precisely what it takes to win the Classic. He accomplished the feat in 2025 and will now attempt to defend his crown at Keeneland, following a preparation route that unfolded exactly as Yahagi envisioned.

The second Future Wager pool generated US$ 134,658 in total handle and positioned several of the American racing season’s biggest names behind the Japanese champion.

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) finished as the 9-2 second choice, yielding a projected payout of US$ 11.14 for every US$ 2 wager.

The Godolphin homebred trained by Bill Mott, winner of both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2025 before earning Horse of the Year honors, added the Whitney Stakes (G1) to his ledger this season, though a foot issue ultimately altered his schedule and forced him to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Another Godolphin runner trained by Mott followed right behind. Knightsbridge (Nyquist), winner of the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), closed at 6-1 odds with a US$ 14.82 return.

Also closing at 6-1 was Golden Tempo (Curlin), with a slightly higher payout of US$ 15.74. Trained by Cherie DeVaux for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, the colt stands among the elite of his crop after capturing both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this year.

The fifth choice was Magnitude (Not This Time), closing at 7-1. The Winchell Thoroughbreds runner trained by Steve Asmussen has built a top-class campaign highlighted by victories in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), credentials that keep him firmly anchored among the division's standard-bearers.

The "All Other Starters Not Listed" option, covering any potential runner not individually featured among the 17 named horses, closed at 14-1.

With over a month remaining before the gates open at Keeneland, much can still shift before post time, but the second Future Wager pool delivered a clear signal regarding the impact of Forever Young's return.

The Japanese champion returned after nearly six months, captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and rapidly reestablished his dominance in the main pre-race markets for the Classic. Now he stands atop the betting public's preferences as the countdown begins to achieve an even steeper challenge: defending the crown he claimed in 2025.