Live racing has made a triumphant return to the revitalized Belmont Park, highlighted by Susumu Fujita’s Japanese star, Forever Young, who delivered a commanding 3 1/4-length win in the 108th Jockey Club Gold Cup. This Grade 1, $1 million race reinforced Belmont’s status as a global hub for top-tier racing talent.
An enthusiastic crowd witnessed the Real Steel colt, now a five-time Group/Grade 1 winner, conquer the 10-furlong event for horses aged three and older. This victory secured Forever Young a spot in this year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, where he will aim to defend his title after his triumph over Sierra Leone at last year’s event in Del Mar.
NYRA (New York Racing Association, Inc.) marked the grand reopening of Belmont Park following a three-year transformation effort aimed at creating a premier sports and entertainment venue. Friday’s race card was highlighted by Forever Young’s impressive debut on the Empire State’s renewed surface, with regular jockey Ryusei Sakai guiding the champion.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, with insights translated by Forever Young’s racing manager Hiroshi Ando, expressed heartfelt thanks for the chance to showcase his star during such a historic moment in New York racing. Yahagi reflected on the warmth and welcoming nature of the American racing community, noting how it felt like coming home despite often traveling worldwide.
Forever Young’s victory was particularly notable as it came in the first stakes race on the newly renovated main track, marking his return after nearly six months off since finishing second by a length in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan this past March. The 5-year-old bay has a decorated resume, including back-to-back wins in the $20 million Saudi Cup in 2025 and 2026 as well as an undefeated streak in six starts in Japan’s Tokyo Daishoten.
The race featured a shortened field of four after a trio of scratches. Besides Forever Young, the contenders included Baeza, Stars and Stripes, and Phileas Fogg. From his outside post, Forever Young was the favorite at 2-5 odds. The race started with Phileas Fogg setting the pace, as Baeza experienced another sluggish start from the inside post. Forever Young was held patiently just behind the leader before making a decisive move near the turn, overtaking Phileas Fogg and sprinting wide to power down the stretch.
Forever Young comfortably crossed the finish line first in 2:01.23, well ahead of Hall of Famer John Velazquez-trained Stars and Stripes, who rallied strongly to secure second place. Baeza managed a late run to claim third, while Phileas Fogg faded to fourth. Sakai, aboard Forever Young for all 16 of his starts worldwide, noted that a faster pace might have better prepared the horse for the Breeders’ Cup, though Forever Young responded well in the stretch despite the slower tempo.
While Yahagi was happy to claim the win, he admitted the horse’s performance was only about 50% of what he expects, pointing to the need for improved fitness particularly on the respiratory side. Forever Young will stay at Belmont to continue training through October 20 before traveling to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup.
Yahagi, a trainer of renowned champions like Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You, declared Forever Young a once-in-a-lifetime horse. With this latest win, Forever Young’s earnings have surged past $32.3 million, backing up past top finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bred by Northern Racing, he boasts pedigree connections through his dam to familiar rivals like Sierra Leone.
Legendary Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who guided both Stars and Stripes and Baeza, praised Stars and Stripes’ strong run but expressed frustration with Baeza’s ongoing gate troubles that hindered his performance.
Racing action at Belmont Park continues Saturday with a 10-race card, featuring the $175,000 Floral Park Stakes as the highlight. Betting and live coverage are available through NYRA Bets and FOX Sports respectively.
Fan Take: This thrilling return to Belmont Park underscores how international talent like Forever Young elevates the sport by blending global stars with historic venues. It signals an exciting era where top-level competition and world-class facilities unite to captivate fans and shape the future of horse racing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
