Forever Young won the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Saturday, securing Japan's first triumph in the centerpiece of the $34 million Breeders' Cup extravaganza. Jockey Ryusei Sakai guided the globe-trotting horse to hold off defending champion Sierra Leone and last year's runner-up Fierceness in a dramatic finish.
On Saturday, at Del Mar Racetrack near San Diego, Forever Young claimed victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the highlight of the $34 million Breeders' Cup racing extravaganza. The globe-trotting horse took a nose in front coming off the final turn and held off a late-closing Sierra Leone, the defending champion, and Fierceness, last year's runner-up.
"I can't believe it, he is an amazing horse," said jockey Ryusei Sakai, who also rode Forever Young to a third-place finish in the Classic on the same Del Mar track last year and in last year's Kentucky Derby. This win marks Japan's first triumph in the prestigious race, showcasing the rising prowess of Japanese thoroughbreds on the global stage.
The Breeders' Cup draws top international talent annually to Del Mar, and Forever Young's performance underscores his resilience after previous near-misses.