Japanese superstar clocks a half-mile in 49 3/5 seconds before heading to Keeneland, while fellow Classic contender Sovereignty continues preparations at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. — October 18, 2026

Japan’s racing sensation Forever Young took another important step toward defending his Breeders’ Cup Classic crown on Sunday morning, completing a strong half-mile workout at Belmont Park before his scheduled departure for Keeneland on Tuesday.

Owned by Susumu Fujita and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the 5-year-old son of Real Steel covered four furlongs in 49 3/5 seconds, with an opening quarter-mile in 25 3/5 seconds, before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

The workout marked his final scheduled breeze at Belmont Park, where the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Older Dirt Male has been based for more than a month following his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18.

A Stronger, Straighter Forever Young

With assistant trainer and regular exercise rider Yuki Araki aboard, Forever Young began his morning by backing up clockwise along the Belmont Park main track before launching into his half-mile exercise.

Araki was particularly encouraged by the horse’s improved straightness through the stretch compared with his previous workout, when he completed four furlongs in 51.98 seconds.

“Solid – compared to last time we breezed, on the straight he slightly [drifted out], but today, he had more straightness,” Araki said. “He improved and mentally, he is really going forward, which is positive.”

The assistant trainer also noted that Forever Young appeared to understand the assignment without requiring much encouragement.

“I asked him from the five-furlong post, but I didn’t have to ask him too much. He knew he was breezing today and picked it up well. Lovely traveling and cruising. I’m very satisfied.”

Following the workout, Forever Young walked several laps along Belmont Park’s tree-lined backstretch horse path before returning to his barn.

Belmont Park Provides an Ideal Training Base

Forever Young’s connections elected to remain in New York following his commanding 3 1/4-length Jockey Club Gold Cup victory, rather than immediately shipping to Kentucky.

The decision has allowed the Japanese champion to benefit from Belmont Park’s variety of training surfaces, including its main dirt track, dirt training track, inner Tapeta track and quarter-mile Tapeta pony track.

“This is very good, Belmont – a training camp for him,” Araki said. “We gave him a lot of things to do, and he [is] doing really well. I’m really impressed.”

Forever Young is scheduled for an easy day on Monday before traveling to Keeneland on Tuesday, where his team will oversee the final stages of preparation for the October 31 championship.

History Awaits in the Breeders’ Cup Classic

Forever Young arrives at this year’s Breeders’ Cup with an opportunity to achieve one of the rarest accomplishments in American racing history.

After capturing the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, he will attempt to become only the second horse to win the prestigious race twice, joining the legendary Tiznow , who accomplished the feat in 2000 and 2001.

His remarkable international résumé reflects a career built across continents.

FOREVER YOUNG — CAREER SNAPSHOT

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Career starts

10

Racetracks

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Countries

Among his greatest achievements are consecutive victories in the $20 million Saudi Cup in 2025 and 2026 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, his 2024 Tokyo Daishoten triumph in Japan, and his historic Breeders’ Cup Classic victory in California.

He also remains undefeated in six appearances in his native Japan.

His most recent success in the Jockey Club Gold Cup further demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level on American dirt, reinforcing his status as one of the leading contenders for this year’s Classic.

Sovereignty Continues Classic Preparations at Saratoga

Meanwhile, another major contender for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic was also in action Sunday morning.

Godolphin’s reigning American Horse of the Year Sovereignty worked five furlongs in 1:02.76 in company over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The move represented an improvement in time from his previous five-furlong workout, completed in 1:04.01 one week earlier.

The Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Whitney winner continues building toward a potential championship showdown with Forever Young at Keeneland.

With both champions progressing through their final preparations, the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic is shaping up as one of the most compelling international clashes of the racing season.

Two Champions, One Classic

Forever Young’s pursuit of a historic repeat adds another layer of excitement to a race already rich in storylines.

For Japan, another Classic victory would further solidify its growing influence on the global Thoroughbred racing stage. For Forever Young, it would place him alongside Tiznow in one of the sport’s most exclusive categories.

Sovereignty, meanwhile, brings elite American credentials and a formidable record in the country’s premier dirt races.

With less than two weeks remaining until the October 31 showdown at Keeneland, the countdown is officially entering its final stretch.

Agentes 305 will continue following the preparations, arrivals and developments surrounding the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, with on-site coverage from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.