Forever Young inaugurated the new Belmont with a victory and still promises much more
The Japanese superstar captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) by 3 1/4 lengths, making it the first stakes race contested over the renovated main track. Yoshito Yahagi assured that he is still far from his peak form and will remain training in New York until traveling to Keeneland to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— Belmont Park needed a champion to begin writing its new history, and Forever Young took it upon himself to sign the opening page. In the return of racing to the historic New Yorkvenue after three years of reconstruction, the Japanese superstar dominated the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1-2000m, $1,000,000) and added another international chapter to an extraordinary career.
The most ominous sign for those set to face him in a few weeks in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is that
Yoshito Yahagi was not completely satisfied.
Forever Young won by 3 1/4 lengths without enduring any true moments of concern, yet his trainer considers that there is still huge room for improvement following nearly six months away from the track.
“Obviously we won, and with that I am 100 percent satisfied, but as for Forever Young's performance, I would say I am only 50 percent happy,” Yahagi surprised.
The explanation followed immediately. “Physically we think he’s at 80 percent, but internally, in terms of lungs and performance, it wasn't quite enough for me yet.”
If such a margin truly exists, Keeneland can expect an even more dangerous version of the champion.
Without Complications
The race lost contenders with the scratches of Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), Banishing (Ghostzapper), and Render Judgment (Blame), leaving just four horses in the gate.
Phileas Fogg (Astern) quickly took the responsibility of setting the pace, while Ryusei Sakai settled Forever Youngdirectly behind him. Stars and Stripes (Not This Time) sat third, and Baeza (McKinzie), who once again experienced trouble at the break, trailed well back from the rear.
The pacesetter posted the opening quarter-mile in :25.04 and the half-mile in :48.34—a considerably slower tempo than Sakai would have preferred, especially keeping in mind the race's role as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup.
Forever Young began to range up progressively and, as they entered the far turn, his jockey barely needed to ask for extra effort. After 1200 meters in 1:11.96, he quickly leveled with Phileas Fogg, angled outward, and the race was virtually over right there.
He entered the stretch already in full command and drew clear with absolute authority. Stars and Stripes attempted to make headway on the inside and put in a very commendable effort to finish second, but he never posed a threat to the favorite.
Forever Young crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths clear in a final time of 2:01.23, without even switching leads down the lane. Baeza made his move far too late, finishing third, while Phileas Fogg rounded out the field in fourth.
“He has no issue with a slow pace, but I would have preferred them to go faster to prepare us for the Breeders’ Cup,” Sakai explained. “He responded very well when entering the stretch. When I asked him, he answered.”
A Place in History
The victory held a significance that far transcended the Jockey Club Gold Cup itself. After three years of construction, Belmont Park welcomed racing back, and the traditional G1 became the first stakes race contested over the newly renovated main track.
Forever Young thus remains forever linked to the grand reopening. Yahagi fully grasped the magnitude of the day. “I want to thank Belmont Park for all their support. We are truly happy to have won the Jockey Club Gold Cup on reopening day. It will be a special memory for us,” he noted.
The trainer also highlighted the affection Forever Young receives whenever he competes in the United States: “Normally, when we travel around the world, we feel like we are far from home. But when we come to America, people always receive our horse so warmly. We feel a lot of warmth, as if we were coming home.”
Forever Young was making his first start since finishing second by a length in the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydanin March.
His global campaign already includes victories in Japan, back-to-back editions of the Saudi Cup (G1), and the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, in addition to that memorable 2024 campaign in which he finished third by the narrowest of margins in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Classic.
With this victory at Belmont, he extended his career record to 12 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds from 16 starts, with earnings now reaching $32,300,000.
Belmont, His Home Until Keeneland
There will be no immediate return to Japan. Forever Young arrived at Belmont eight days prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Yahagi was so pleased with the training facilities that he decided to make it his base for the coming month.
The plan is to remain in New York until October 20 and fly out to Keeneland that day. There, he will attempt to defend his crown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, having defeated Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) last year at Del Mar.
Belmont will therefore serve as the staging ground where Yahagi seeks to find that missing percentage he still considers absent.
The stature that Forever Young has attained for his trainer was encapsulated in a phrase that probably explains better than any statistic what the son of Real Steel represents.
“I’ve trained many horses, but I don’t think I will ever see another one like him in my entire life and career.”
Bill Mott, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with Stars and Stripes, particularly considering he was coming off a victory in the Birdstone Stakes (L) over 2800 meters and had to shorten up considerably in distance.
His evaluation of Baeza was altogether different, as the colt once again showed gate troubles and failed to ever truly get involved in the race.
Yet everything was inevitably overshadowed by Forever Young.
Belmont Park has come back to life, and the first major name of its new era arrived from Japan. Forever Young won with authority, stamped his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and issued an even more important warning: according to those who know him best, this was still not his peak form.
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