He's a champion. He's a Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner. He's earned more than $31.7 million with 11 victories in 15 races.
Welcome back, Forever Young. The 5-year-old global star has returned to America and is the heavy 3-5 morning-line in Friday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on opening day at rebuilt Belmont Park.
The six challengers combined don't even come close to the accomplishments of Forever Young, a two-time Saudi Cup (G1) winner who nearly gave Japan its first Kentucky Derby (G1) win in 2024, finishing third in a three-horse photo finish.
He's been cool, calm, and relaxed ever since arriving in New York last week and is ready to go once again. However, this will be his first race in 175 days -- since finishing second in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28.
That's a long layoff for any horse, even if Forever Young has been training in Japan since August for the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, a steppingstone to the BC Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
“Obviously he’s had a big spell [of time off] since the Dubai World Cup, and he came back training at Hakodate Racecourse in Hokkaido in early August in the cooler weather,” Hiroshi Ando, racing manager for owner Susumu Fujita. “On the mainland, it’s really hot, so we tried to skip the hot weather to prepare for here. The condition is really good, and he knows how to travel with a long flight, and he’s good at it.”
How good remains to be seen. Can he deliver yet again after the long layoff against a somewhat lackluster field that has combined for just one Grade 1 win? Seems like a no-brainer, but ...
The rest of the field, with morning-line odds now available, consists of Baeza, winner of the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby (G1), at 9-2; Suburban Stakes (G2) winner Phileas Fogg at 4-1; Chunk of Gold and Banishing each at 12-1; Stars and Stripes at 15-1 and Render Judgment at 20-1.
Unfortunately, Sovereignty won't be running Friday. The 2025 Horse of the Year was ruled out last week by trainer Bill Mott due to a foot abscess. The Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the BC Classic, is the showcase event as a reconstructed Belmont opens after a three-year total rebuild.
A Forever Young-Sovereignty matchup had been highly publicized for weeks by racing officials since the two didn't meet in last year's BC Classic as Sovereignty was scratched with a fever.
Nonetheless, here's a look at the contenders:
Mott doesn't have his big gun but sends out Baeza and Stars and Stripes. Baeza is 0-for-3 with some starting gate issues under Mott, who took over after trainer John Shirreffs died earlier this year. However, the 4-year-old was third in the Alysheba Stakes (G2), second in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) -- behind Magnitude and ahead of Sovereignty – and fourth in the Whitney Stakes (G1) behind Sovereignty. Junior Alvarado rides.
Stars and Stripes, a pace chaser, won the Birdstone Stakes by a nose at Saratoga on Aug. 13, but was eighth -- beaten 17 ¼ lengths – in the Suburban. John Velazquez has the call.
Chunk of Gold has a 2025 West Virginia Derby (G3) victory on his resume, but he's 0-for-2 in 2026 after returning from a seven-month break. He was supplemented into the field after Sovereignty and Money Time were declared out. Last out, he was beaten a neck by Bishops Bay in the Monmouth Cup (G3).
Banishing, trained by David Jacobson, could be worth a look. The 6-year-old gelding has come through with a few interesting wins, including the Godolphin Mile (G2) in March. That win came after he was eighth – beaten 10 ¾ lengths by Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. Last out, he second to Willy D's in the Charles Town Classic (G2). Joel Rosario will be aboard.
Kenny McPeek sends out Render Judgment, who has one allowance win in his last 12 starts. Manny Franco, coming off his first Saratoga riding title, will be aboard.
If Baeza runs the way he did against Sovereignty and Journalism in the 2025 Triple Crown – third in the Derby and the Belmont – he could present a serious challenge for Forever Young. And, if Phileas Fogg is able to get off to a fast start, maybe he has enough left in the stretch to hold off Forever Young.
Forever Young is simply the best bet, but with nearly half-a-year without a race, perhaps this really is a tuneup for what lies ahead – victory in a second straight Breeders' Cup Classic next month. Plus, he's 1-for-3 in the U.S. -- third in the 2024 Derby, third in the 2024 BC Classic and first in the 2025 BC Classic.
"I am delighted to be able to compete in the United States again with Forever Young, following our participation over the past two years,” Forever Young's trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “It is also a great honor to run in New York at this very memorable time, coinciding with the reopening of the historic Belmont Park racetrack. Through these two races, the Jockey Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, I hope to contribute to the further development of American horse racing."
Forever Young will work over the new Belmont course on Tuesday with regular rider Ryusei Sakai aboard. Post time for JCGC is 4:14 p.m. ET – race five on a nine-race card.
1 Baeza (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott) 9-2
2 Stars and Stripes (John Velazquez, Bill Mott), 15-1
3 Chunk of Gold (Jaime Torres, Ethan West), 12-1
4 Phileas Fogg (Kendrick Carmouche, Gustavo Rodriguez), 4-1
5 Banishing (Joel Rosario, David Jacobson), 12-1
6 Render Judgment (Manny Franco, Kenny McPeek), 20-1
7 Forever Young (Ryusei Sakai, Yamito Yahagi), 3-5
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
