Forever Young, the horse who absolutely blasted his way into history last year, is officially back, and he’s gunning for a straight-up legendary repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this Saturday at Keeneland. This isn’t just any race; we’re talking about the showpiece of a massive $34 million racing extravaganza, and Forever Young is looking to become only the second horse EVER to win the Classic twice, joining Tiznow from way back in 2000 and 2001.
Yahagi Says Forever Young Is “Very Fresh,” But The Target Is On His Back
Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi is exuding pure confidence, and honestly, why wouldn’t he be? His five-year-old phenom, Forever Young, just had a “perfect gallop” on the Lexington, Kentucky, track in his final tune-up for the 1 1/4-mile, $7 million race. Yahagi literally said the horse is “moving beautifully,” adding, “I’m very satisfied. There is no concern about the horse’s condition. He is very fresh.” That’s the kind of update that makes you sit up and take notice. Forever Young, with jockey Ryusei Sakai in the irons, is already the 2-1 early favorite after snagging the fifth post. Last year, he was coming off a win in Japan when he made history at Del Mar as the first Japanese horse to ever take the Classic. This year, Yahagi brought him to the US early, and they already banked a win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in September. Yahagi even thinks Forever Young has improved since that win. But the trainer knows this year is different. “Last year, we have to take on the challenge to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” Yahagi said. “But this year, I think we are in the position that everybody is targeting us, so it’s not quite easy to defend the title.” He’s right, everyone wants a piece of the two-time Saudi Cup winner.
Sovereignty’s Redemption Story Is The Real Wild Card
While everyone is focused on Forever Young’s historic run, there’s another horse whose story is just as compelling: Sovereignty. Yahagi himself said he’s been “looking forward to competing against him,” and that “beating him means becoming the real champion of America.” Sovereignty is the reigning North American horse of the year, the same horse who absolutely dominated the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Remember last year? He had to scratch from the Classic with a fever, a gut-wrenching turn of events. This year, it was a hoof abscess that briefly threatened his shot, but trainer Bill Mott is confident his horse is ready to roll. Mott knows what he has, saying, “The one thing we know is if he gets a good pace up front and he likes the racetrack, he’s going to come up with a good run.” Sovereignty will break from the second post with Junior Alvarado. And don’t forget the other contenders looking to play spoiler. Mott’s other entry, Knightsbridge, could set a blistering pace. Magnitude, trained by Steve Asmussen, has already beaten Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup and Sovereignty in the Stephen Foster. Then there’s Golden Tempo, who snatched both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this year by taking advantage of the early pace, and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo. The Turf race also has Ethical Diamond going for a repeat, and Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, tied for a record 21 Breeders’ Cup wins, is sending out stellar filly Diamond Necklace, Europe’s leading three-year-old, who’s the 3-1 favorite in that one.
This Saturday isn’t just another race; it’s a battle for history. Forever Young is carrying the hopes of a nation, but Sovereignty’s comeback story is pure fire, and any one of these other top-tier horses could play spoiler. You absolutely cannot miss a second of this action.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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