Forever Young, facing a history with deep Argentine roots
The Japanese champion will attempt to become only the fifth horse bred outside the United States to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup; Princequillo, trained by Horacio Luro, and the Argentine-bred Festín hold places of honor on an elite list that also includes Gallant Man and River Keen
By Diego H. Mitagstein
Long before Forever Young began traveling the globe accumulating victories, millions, and accolades, four other foreign-bred horses managed to carve their names into the history of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Two of them, moreover, formed an everlasting bond with Argentina.
The Japanese champion will be the star attraction this Friday for the reopening of Belmont Park, as the race returns to its traditional home following a five-year stay at Saratoga. Should he win, he will become only the fifth foreign-born horse to capture an event inaugurated in 1919 whose honor roll includes legends such as Man o’ War (Fair Play), War Admiral (Man o' War), Whirlaway (Blenheim), Citation (Bull Lea), Kelso (Your Host), Buckpasser (Tom Fool), Damascus (Sword Dancer), Affirmed (Exclusive Native), John Henry (Ole Bob Bowers), Cigar (Palace Music), Skip Away (Skip Trial), and Curlin (Smart Strike).
The first import to prevail was Princequillo, in 1943. He was foaled in Ireland three years earlier, though conceived in France, where his sire Prince Rose stood at stud. The outbreak of World War II prompted his dam, Cosquilla(Papyrus), to be shipped first to Ireland and subsequently, alongside her colt, to the United States.
His beginnings were a far cry from the stardom that lay ahead. He debuted in claiming races before being acquired in 1942 for a modest $2,500 by Horacio Luro, who brought him into Boone Hall Stable. The Argentine conditioner looked beyond his small and unpretentious frame. “Good horses come in all sizes,” was one of the adages attributed to him when he chose to buy him.
Under Luro's tutelage, Princequillo developed into one of the top stayers of his era. In 1943, he captured the Saratoga Handicap and the Saratoga Cup—setting a track record for 2800 meters in the latter—before taking on the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which was then contested over a grueling two miles.
With Conn McCreary aboard, he allowed Fairy Manhurst (Man o' War) to dictate the pace before overwhelming him in the stretch to stop the clock in 3m23s4/5. It was a career-defining victory that stamped Luro's name on one of the most prestigious events in American racing for the very first time.
Princequillo closed his race record with 12 wins, 5 seconds, and 7 thirds from 33 starts, earning $96,550. Yet his most profound impact was made in the breeding shed. He led the U.S. sire list twice and topped the broodmare sire standings eight times. His progeny included champions like Hill Prince, Dedicate, Misty Morn, How, and Prince John, while through his daughters he served as the maternal grandsire of Secretariat (Bold Ruler), Sham (Pretense), Mill Reef(Never Bend), and Fort Marcy (Amerigo). The horse discovered and developed by Luro ultimate became one of the cornerstone bloodlines of modern Thoroughbred racing.
The second foreign-bred winner was Gallant Man, foaled in England and winner of the 1957 edition. A champion of supreme quality, he also swept the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes that same season.
It took 34 years for another import to duplicate the feat. That was Festín, born in Argentina in 1986, a son of the outstanding Mat-Boy out of Felicidades (Con Brio). Conditioned in the United States by Ron McAnally, the chestnut pieced together an exceptional 1991 campaign, going toe-to-toe with the top handicap horses in the nation.
His first major breakthrough came in the Oaklawn Handicap (G1), contested over a muddy track in heavy rain. Sent off at 11-1, he defeated a stellar field that included Unbridled (Fappiano), Farma Way (Marfa), and Jolie’s Halo(Halo), rallying from off the pace to edge Primal (Maudlin) by three-quarters of a length. He later proved that effort was no fluke by taking the Nassau County Handicap (G2) by daylight.
His ultimate crowning moment arrived on October 5 at Belmont. The Jockey Club Gold Cup had just been trimmed from 2400 to 2000 meters, and Festín once again found the ideal partner in Eddie Delahoussaye. True to his running style, he was held off the early speed before launching his bid rounding the far turn.
In the stretch, Delahoussaye set him loose, and Festín collared Chief Honcho (Chief's Crown), with Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Strike the Gold (Alydar) back in third. He clocked 2m00s69/100 and collected $510,000, the largest payday of his career. His triumph meant far more than a simple result: it proved that a horse born and raised in Argentina could step onto one of the world's most demanding stages and conquer a race reserved for true champions.
Festín wrapped up his racing career with 9 wins, 4 seconds, and 4 thirds from 24 starts, accumulating $2,256,295 in earnings. Beside his victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Oaklawn Handicap, he won the Nassau County Handicap and finished second to Farma Way in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Years later, he returned to Argentina to stand as a stallion, producing several stakes winners.
Other South American runners to deliver standout performances in the Gold Cup include Argentine-breds Don Poggio (Los Curros), Paraje (Magabit), and Gentlemen (Robin des Bois), alongside Chilean star Lido Palace(Rich Man's Gold)—all of whom finished runner-up—as well as Argentine representative Rico Monte (Saint Patrick), who placed third in 1946.
The most recent import to triumph was River Keen, an Irish-bred who captured the 1999 running for Bob Baffert, Chris Antley, and owner Hugo Reynolds. Though already a 7-year-old with persistent hoof issues, he was in the form of his life. After springing an upset in the Woodward Stakes (G1), he repeated the feat at Belmont, this time at 12-1 odds.
River Keen held off Behrens (Pleasant Colony) and Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Almutawakel (Machiavellian), stopping the clock in 2m01s40/100 for the 2000 meters.
Princequillo, Gallant Man, Festín, and River Keen form the elite fraternity awaiting Forever Young. The Japanesestar arrives with an established global reputation, boasting victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and back-to-back editions of the Saudi Cup (G1), but he must overcome a six-month layoff.
If he succeeds, he will not only take another step toward defending his Breeders' Cup title, but will also join a select group where Argentina remains proudly represented by the genius of a legendary trainer like Horacio Luro and the quality of one of its finest international ambassadors: the unforgettable Festín.
