Thoughts on Forever Young’s Historic Breeders’ Cup Classic Win
This past weekend, the Thoroughbred racing world crowned 14 new World Champions at the 2025 Breeders' Cup held at Del Mar racetrack. But none carried more weight than the ultimate champion, winner of the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic - FOREVER YOUNG (JPN). Forever Young carried not only the weight of an entire nation but also the culmination of years of calculated, strategic planning that started back in the 80s and 90s.
My professional involvement in Thoroughbred racing began nearly 20 years ago, and by then Japan's program was already bearing fruit. Much has been discussed in recent years about the amount of money Japan has invested in purchasing quality mares, but let's not forget they also built an empire of global dominance on a stallion that US breeders rejected—Sunday Silence. And in fact, Forever Young's own dam, Forever Darling (a daughter of Congrats), was never considered commercial in the North American market. So, while it is true that Japan has imported many quality mares from the US, it's only one piece of the puzzle.
Over the course of my career, I have seen them chip away at the top races in the world. I have marveled at their attention to detail, their racing savvy, and their forward-thinking horsemanship that perfectly blended traditional concepts with modern approaches and technologies. To anyone paying attention, it was only a matter of time. Only a matter of time before Japan takes one of North America's top races.
In 2024, I thought Forever Young would be their first Kentucky Derby winner. He was 3rd by a whisker in what was one of the most thrilling Derby finishes of my lifetime. He would return to US soil once again to run in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, again finishing a closing 3rd after drawing the inside rail and having to overcome traffic. After that, he picked up two more G1 wins. On Saturday, facing familiar rivals Sierra Leone and Fierceness, it was finally his time.
I found myself emotional as I watched Ryusei Sakai punch the air in victory aboard a horse he's ridden all over the world. I was wiping my own tears as I watched master trainer Yoshito Yahagi celebrate, tears in his eyes. The moment looked just as it felt—historic.
Forever Young deserved to be crowned the world champion. But so did Japan and the entire Japanese breeding and racing industry. I hope to take some of the lessons they have showcased to the world and use them to bolster the US Thoroughbred industry, as Japan has.
