We Speak Horse Racing
Forever Young: The Japanese Superstar Chasing a Place in Breeders’ Cup History
When the final Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings of 2026 were released, the verdict of the voters was clear: the road to the $7 million Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31 runs through Japan. Forever Young finished first in the final poll with 371 votes, including 25 first-place votes, holding the top spot for the third consecutive week.
The 5-year-old, owned by Susumu Fujita and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, seized the lead after his victory in the Sept. 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park — the latest chapter in a season that began with a successful defense of his Saudi Cup (G1) title in February and continued with a runner-up finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1). A year ago, he made history at Del Mar as the horse who carried Japan’s colors to victory in America’s richest race, and his career record now stands at 12 wins from 16 starts with earnings beyond $32 million.
What awaits him at Keeneland is a chance at something only one horse has ever done. Tiznow, in 2000 and 2001, remains the only back-to-back winner of the Classic. Standing in Forever Young’s way is the horse he displaced atop the rankings: Sovereignty, the 2025 Horse of the Year, who finished second in the final poll with 357 votes and has been waiting a full year for this meeting after missing last year’s Classic. Two champions, one starting gate, and a place in the record books on the line.
We Speak Horse Racing
Blink and You’ll Miss Them: Englishman, Shisospicy and Ways and Means Headline the Breeders’ Cup Sprints
Championship Saturday at Keeneland will pause for breath exactly three times — and each pause lasts about a minute. The Breeders’ Cup’s sprint divisions, the Sprint (G1), the Turf Sprint (G1) and the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), bring together the fastest horses in the world, and this year’s editions are loaded.
The $2 million Sprint drew 19 pre-entries and is expected to fill all 14 starting gates for the second straight year. The horse they all have to catch is Englishman, Cherie DeVaux’s 3-year-old sensation whose lone defeat came in the Pat Day Mile (G2) and who has otherwise dominated his generation in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1). He faces older horses for the first time, with T O Elvis and Forego Stakes (G1) winner Hymn — trained by Ron Moquett, who won this race at Keeneland in 2020 with Whitmore — among the dangers. Last year’s winner, Bentornato, is sidelined and will not defend his title.
On the grass, champion female sprinter Shisospicy returns to defend her Turf Sprint crown for Jose D’Angelo despite having raced only once since last year’s Breeders’ Cup, while the Filly & Mare Sprint revolves around Ways and Means, whose 5 1/2-length Ballerina Stakes (G1) romp on Aug. 29 makes her the standout as trainer Chad Brown chases a record fourth victory in the race.
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