Overview
- Forever Young surged late to defeat defending champion Sierra Leone by about half a length at Del Mar, with pre‑race favorite Fierceness holding third.
- Ryusei Sakai tracked the honest early fractions set up by Sierra Leone’s pacemaker, Contrary Thinking, and produced the decisive stretch kick.
- The victory capped a year that included a Saudi Cup win, a third in the Dubai World Cup, and a home tune‑up, reflecting elite international form.
- Yahagi likened the breakthrough to Japan winning a football World Cup, and Sakai said he “can’t believe it,” having ridden the horse in all 13 starts.
- The $7 million Classic headlined a Breeders’ Cup program that also saw Willie Mullins earn his first Cup win in the Turf and Bob Baffert tie the all‑time trainers’ wins record at 21.